Report: Alabama’s Blake Barnett will start at quarterback vs. USC

Redshirt freshman Blake Barnett will start at quarterback for No. 1 Alabama in its season-opener against USC.

Redshirt freshman Blake Barnett will start at quarterback for No. 1 Alabama in its season-opener against USC, Matt Zenitz of AL.com reports.

Barnett and redshirt junior Cooper Bateman were listed as co-starters this week on the team’s depth chart, though it was expected that Bateman would start. Instead, Saban will make Barnett the youngest starting quarterback since he arrived on campus in 2007.

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The dual-threat quarterback was considered the best at his position for the class of 2015. 

Alabama and the No. 26 Trojans will kick off at 8 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.