The Alabama Crimson Tide are likely to start the season without a starting quarterback, or two co-starters, according to Nick Saban.

The Tide's head football coach told the media Monday that neither Jacob Coker nor Blake Sims seized the starting position, ESPN reported. Now both seem poised to get equal playing time in their season opener Saturday against West Virginia.

"We're going to continue to rep both guys," Saban said. "We feel like both guys have done a good job.

"Obviously someone has to start the game, so we'll make that decision sometime this week."

Sims was AJ McCarron's backup for the last four years and is entering his fifth year as a senior at Alabama. Coker is a transfer from Florida State who left in the midst of Jameis Winston being named the starter and his following success.

Coker was perceived to be the favorite to win the starting position given his impressive six-foot-six frame and physical tools. Unlike Coker, Sims has been teammates with some players for years and deeply understands the Tide's offense.

"He doesn't have the same knowledge and experience," Saban said of Coker. "We're trying to get him more and more familiar so he can play with the rhythm we want offensively."

According to TideSports.com, Saban has not seen a reason to name either the starter.

"I would like to see somebody take the bull by the horns from a leadership standpoint, a consistency standpoint and win the job here sometime," he said. "But we're not going to make a decision until somebody does that."

Alabama comes into the season ranked second overall in the Associated Press' preseason poll and look like a strong contender to play in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Despite the open-ended quarterback situation, Alabama is fielding one of the most loaded teams in the nation.

Said Saban of the season opener, "Whatever pitcher starts the game isn't necessarily going to pitch nine innings."

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