Saban speaking...
We're excited for game week. I know our players are excited, as well, to play a great program like Southern California.
This is always a bowl-like atmosphere when you play in these neutral-site games.
Opening game successes come more from an internal scoreboard. What are we doing to play winning football?
On the team's 2016 identity: "There's no identity at all, regardless of what's been said, written. It means nothing."
Southern Cal is a very very good offensive team.
Juju Smith is as good of a wide receiver as we are going to play all year.
All the (talk) is that they're much improved on defense.
From a quarterback standpoint, we're sort of down to 2 guys. Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett are the 2 guys to play in this game.
We make this decision with what's going to give us the chance this game as well as the future
On running backs: We've always played two guys here, and I think the guys we will play are Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris.
On OL: We're going to play Bradley Bozeman at center and Ross Pierschbacher at RG.
Saban: Cooper has a great knowledge of the offense. Manages things well when he's out there. He's improved his passing ability.
On Jalen Hurts: "Jalen's got a tremendous future. I think he's got great ability."
Jalen Hurts has tremendous ability. We're not giving up on that ability. I hope he can be a productive player for us this year
Trevon Diggs is a very talented guy. He's a guy who can make plays as a WR. We're deeper at WR = more difficult to get PT there.
On Blake Barnett: I think that in Blake's case, he's been here a little longer. He has a little better knowledge of the offense
More on Barnett: Blake has really been an effective passer for us
On not picking a QB: "I can't tell you how they are going to play in a game, especially the guys who haven't played in a game."