Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones (10) will start. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Mac Jones named Alabama starting quarterback

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Sep 21, 2020 2:40 PM ET

As ESPN's Alex Scarborough reported, Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban officially named Mac Jones his starting quarterback for Saturday's season opener at Missouri.

Jones, a redshirt junior, was the favorite to begin the campaign ahead of top-tier prospect Bryce Young after shining during his stint as a replacement for the injured Tua Tagovailoa, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins this past spring, last fall.

Per Scarborough, Jones notched the second-highest QBR (92.7) in the country from Oct. 25 through the end of the 2019 season. He tossed four touchdowns versus the Auburn Tigers and then found the end zone three times against the Michigan Wolverines in Alabama's 35-16 Citrus Bowl win.

Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's younger brother, had his transfer from Alabama to Maryland officially approved in August.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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