here, which I think that experience is certainly a benefit to him,

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabamas quarterback competition is down to two candidates for the opener.The top-ranked Crimson Tide will start either junior Cooper Bateman or redshirt freshman Blake Barnett Saturday night against No. 20 Southern California in Arlington, Texas.Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett are probably the two guys that were getting ready to play in this game, and thats the way its going to be for right now, Tide coach Nick Saban said on Monday.Chances are, fans will have to tune in Saturday to see whos going to start and if both will play. Its hardly a new thing for the defending national champions.Alabama has carried over battles into two straight seasons -- at least publicly -- and has been to the playoffs both times with one-year starters Blake Sims and Jake Coker.Freshman Jalen Hurts and sophomore David Cornwell had also vied for the No. 1 spot. Bateman is the only one of the four to make it into a college game, starting the Tides only loss last season against Mississippi. Sims never relinquished the job.The 6-foot-5 Barnett arrived as perhaps the most highly rated quarterback prospect Alabama has signed under Saban and has beefed up to 211 pounds since his arrival.Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin have gone with the most experienced candidate the past two years, with strong results. Barnett has been through two spring practices after arriving as one of the nations top quarterback prospects.Whoever wins the job will have a deep receiving corps led by Calvin Ridley, ArDarius Stewart and tight end O.J. Howard.One of the strengths on our team, I feel, is the receivers, and we want to continue to try to have an offense that can create explosive plays through those guys, Saban said.Some coaches prefer a quick quarterback decision so that one guy can start getting the bulk of the practice repetitions with the first-team offense. Sabans OK with waiting to see how they actually perform in a stadium packed with people and a prime-time national TV audience.He cites a gamer like Rohan Davey, who played for him at LSU.I cant tell you how theyre going to play in a game, especially the guys that have never played in a game, Saban said. Cooper has played some in a game here, which I think that experience is certainly a benefit to him, but I dont know how these other guys are going to play in a game. Some guys go into games and they play a lot better.Rohan Davey is a guy that I used to go like this (covers eyes) in practice because some days he would throw the ball end over end in practice and then go throw for 400 yards in the game, and I kind of like that, even though it was hard to take sometimes in practice. But you knew the guy was going to play well in the game, because he was a great competitor.Game notes Freshman Jonah Williams, a five-star recruit, is listed as the first-teamer on the depth chart released Monday. Cam Robinson is the only other freshman tackle to start for Saban at Alabama in the opener. You wouldnt look at his film and think he was a freshman, Tide defensive end Jonathan Allen said. Hes very experienced. His technique is phenomenal. He knows the playbook as well as any other offensive lineman. Hes definitely one of those freshmen who progresses very, very fast. ... Ross Piersbacher is moving from center to right guard, while Bradley Bozeman will be snapping the ball. Piersbacher started at left guard last season and was expected to replace first-round pick Ryan Kelly at center. Bozeman started two games at center when Kelly was injured in 2014, then played in every game as a reserve last season. Cheap Air Max 97 Australia .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Air Max 97 Australia Cheap .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. http://www.airmax97cheapaustralia.com/ .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Air Max 97 Clearance .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Buy Air Max 97 Australia . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Ohio State did not play in the Big Ten championship game a year ago and ended up in the Fiesta Bowl instead of the College Football Playoff.The Buckeyes again missed out on the conference title game this season and are headed back to the Fiesta Bowl. This time, its for a spot in the national championship game.Ohio State finished third in the final CFP rankings on Sunday and will face No. 2 Clemson in the Dec. 31 Fiesta Bowl, setting up a matchup of marquee teams with dynamic quarterbacks.Its great to be here, said Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who also became a grandfather for the first time on Sunday. We understand how hard it is to make the playoffs and were humbled and honored.The Buckeyes (11-1) lost their bid for the Big Ten title with a loss to Penn State on Oct. 22. The Nittany Lions went on to win the Big Ten title game on Saturday, rallying from 21 points down to beat No. 5 Wisconsin 38-31.It wasnt enough.Ohio States strength of schedule, which included a loss to Oklahoma and was capped by last weeks double-overtime victory over then-No. 3 Michigan, pushed the Buckeyes past Penn State and back to the desert. Ohio State beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl a year ago and is the first team in the three years of the CFP to reach the playoffs without winning its conference championship.I think this is going to be interesting about strength of schedule because you think of it, if Oklahoma didnt play us, theyd be in, Meyer said.Clemson (12-1) suffered what appeared to be a debilitating loss to unranked Pittsburgh on Nov. 12, but followed up with lopsided wins over Wake Forest and South Carolina.The Tigers closed out the season with a 42-35 win over No. 18 Virginia Tech in the ACC title game and leapfrogged the Buckeyes in the final CFP standings to No. 2.Clemson finished No. 3 in The Associated Press Top 25 , a spot behind Ohio State.Led by dynamic quarterback Deshaun Watson, Clemson lost to Alabama in the national championship game last season in Arizona. Beat the Buckeyes in their return trip to the desert, the Tigers could get another shot at the top-ranked Crimson Tidee, who play Washington in the Peach Bowl.dddddddddddd.To return out here to Arizona, we had a little taste of it last year and it was a quick trip, barely remember it, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. Were looking forward to having a better time this year.A few more things to look for in the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium:THE QUARTERBACKS: Watson has been stellar again this season, putting his name in the running for the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,626 yards, rushing for 441 and accounting for 38 touchdowns. J.T. Barrett had some inconsistencies during the season, but still threw for 3,275 yards and 33 touchdowns with five interceptions. Both quarterbacks can extend plays with their mobility, which will make it tough on both defenses.THE SERIES: Clemson and Ohio State have played twice before, both in bowl games. They met in the 2014 Orange Bowl, which the Tigers won 40-35 after Sammy Watkins caught 16 passes for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Clemson won the 1978 Gator Bowl over the Buckeyes 17-15 in Woody Hayes last game as Buckeyes coach.DEFENSE, DEFENSE!: For all the Tigers and Buckeyes can do on offense, its their defenses that do the most damage. Ohio State finished fourth nationally in total defense, allowing 282.3 yards per game, and Clemson was ninth at 313.9. Keep an eye on Ohio State freshman Nick Bosa and Clemson senior Ben Boulware -- both make plays all over the field.THE COACHES: Meyer has rebuilt the Buckeyes into a national power in five seasons in Columbus. A two-time national champion at Florida, he won another title with Ohio State after the 2014 season and the Buckeyes have won at least 11 games every season, including a perfect 12-0 record in 2012. Swinney has taken the Tigers to a bowl game in each of his nine seasons, winning at least 10 games the past six. The Tigers have reached the College Football Playoff under Swinney two of the three years it has existed.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '