There’s an old saying: If you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have a quarterback.

Alabama has a quarterback. Coach Nick Saban just isn’t saying.

Admittedly, things looked different at the A-Day scrimmage in April.

AJ McCarron had a better first half, and Phillip Sims had a better second half.

They looked about even, just like Saban has been saying over and over.

They didn’t look even last Saturday, far from it.

McCarron looked cool under pressure. Most of the time, he didn’t hold the ball too long (a Greg McElroy specialty) and his footwork was on point (not a John Parker Wilson specialty). But he spent too much time eyeing Marquis Maze, who finished with 118 yards on eight receptions.

Overall, he looked good for his first career start.

Sims looked nervous, and that’s understandable for his first career co-start (a Nick Saban word). But the heebie-jeebies never left, and Sims was uncomfortable to watch.

In the A-Day game, McCarron was 21-for-38 with 222 yards and two touchdowns. Sims was 19-for-38 with 229 yards.

Saturday, McCarron was 14-for-23 with 226 yards and a touchdown, and Sims finished 7-for-14 with 73 yards.

Both had two interceptions. Both made mental mistakes.

Neither looked spectacular. But one stood out, and he’ll earn Alabama’s starting quarterback position today if he shows he’s mentally ready.

Mentally ready.

That has to be what is holding Saban back. Sure, you want your freshman to think you’re allowing him to compete for the job. It sends a good sign to the recruiting world, and that no doubt is one reason.

But there is something else there. At some point, McCarron has or hasn’t shown Saban something mentally that makes the head coach not trust him completely.

Maybe Saban has nightmares of McCarron throwing into deep coverage against Mississippi State last season. It was after that drive that Saban gave his young quarterback more than a love tap, a clip that has garnered thousands of views on YouTube.

“It was a good opportunity to teach,” Saban said, “and it was a good opportunity for him to learn.”

Maybe McCarron hasn’t shown he’s mentally ready. Maybe Sims has shown just enough to keep Saban’s interest.

No one knows except the Tide coaching staff, but every Alabama fan watching today’s game is probably hoping the secret comes out soon.

The season depends on it.

Stephanie Pedersen, spedersen@ledger-enquirer.com, 706-571-8502