It seems as though the Alabama Crimson Tide (1) and Ohio State Buckeyes (4) could be successful no matter who is playing quarterback for either team.

After seeing A.J. McCarron leave for the NFL, Alabama coach Nick Saban was essentially left with two backup quarterbacks. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, on the other hand, lost his Heisman candidate QB in the preseason and his backup during the season finale against Michigan.

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Blake Sims won the starting QB position for Alabama after spending three seasons as McCarron's backup in an open competition against Jake Coker, a transfer from Florida State. Though Sims was in his fourth season with the Tide, many believed Coker's talent alone would be enough to make up for not knowing Alabama's offense as well as Sims.

But the three-year backup has validated Saban's decision, throwing for 3,250 yards with 26 touchdowns against six interceptions. He completed 65 percent of his passes on 355 passing attempts, though he threw just 39 passes in three years.

Sims is also part of a highly talented offense with a lethal receiving option in Amari Cooper (all you need to know about Cooper is this touchdown pass where offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin signaled for a touchdown before Sims even threw the ball).

As for the running back tandem of Derrick Henry and T.J. Yeldon, Saban confirmed the latter would need to be a game time decision, AL.com reported.

"He's been able to practice each and every day that we've been here and he's looked better and better each day," Saban said in a pregame news conference. "With all injured players, they're always involved and whether they're able to go out and do their job effectively and we'll make that decision at that time but we're very hopeful that he'll be able to make a contribution in this game."

The Tide may have to prepare for a two-QB system from Ohio State, but it will be Cardale Jones getting the Sugar Bowl start. Jones is taking over for J.T. Barrett, who was taking over for Braxton Miller. Meyer confirmed that H-back Jalin Marshall, an all-state quarterback in high school, will be the backup.

Meyer would only say that he is "comfortable" with Jones, though he admittedly was not expecting to be playing him.

"Cardale, if you asked me a year ago or six months ago, I would have looked at you and said you look like you've got six heads," Meyer said in a pregame press conference. "He's had a great week of practice. He's big. He stands back in the pocket. He's got control of the offense. And I think our strength coach said it best to me when we were getting ready for the Big Ten championship game. He said, 'You realize he came in at the same time our staff did. He's been in every meeting. He understands the culture and expectations of the offense.' So [I feel] very comfortable.

"And Jalin has done a great job. Is it the ideal situation? I made this comment over and over again: the one thing that's not allowed is there's no excuses. It is what it is.

"I feel very comfortable where we're at."