5 BCS Contenders Feeling the QB Battle Heat

There are a few big quarterback battles in college football that will have a great impact on BCS contenders. 

These teams must decide which quarterback will lead the way, and if they make the wrong choice, they can kiss their dreams of a national title goodbye. 

Playing an extended period of time with two quarterbacks will only hurt these teams, therefore a decision needs to be made soon. 

Here are five BCS contenders that face intense quarterback battles.  

Honorable Mentions

Penn State Nittany Lions: Matt McGloin vs. Robert Bolden—Head coach Joe Paterno must soon pick a starter if the Nittany Lions want to make the most of their No. 25 ranking. 

Wisconsin Badgers: Russell Wilson vs. Jon Budmayr—Head coach Bret Bielema says the transfer QB is not guaranteed the starting job, but why else would the Badgers bring in Wilson? He still has to win the job, but there shouldn't be any problems with that. 

South Carolina Gamecocks: Stephen Garcia vs. Connor Shaw—The Gamecocks reinstated Garcia for the fifth time, and he is expected to be the starter. But everyone who knows head coach Steve Spurrier knows that he isn't afraid to pull Garcia. There's no guarantee Garcia will be the starter all season long, especially if he gets in trouble off the field.   

5. Texas Longhorns

The Battle: Garrett Gilbert vs. Case McCoy vs. Connor Wood vs. David Ash

The Texas Longhorns will begin the season ranked in the top 25 despite going 5-7 in 2010. Head coach Mack Brown continues to say every position is open, but he must soon decide who will be under center.

Gilbert has the experience, but McCoy had the better spring. Wood and Ash are both freshman however, and the chances of them starting are pretty slim. 

The longer Brown waits, the less confidence the starter will have heading into the 2011 season. 

4. Auburn Tigers

The Battle: Clint Moseley vs. Barrett Trotter vs. Kiehl Frazier 

The defending BCS National Champions will have a difficult time replacing Cam Newton. Head coach Gene Chizik has yet to pick a starting quarterback, but his decision is far from easy. 

Does he go with one of the guys with more experience? Or should he throw Frazier, the freshman, into the fire?

It looks as though Chizik and the Tigers will go by trial-and-error and see who emerges as the best in the first few weeks of the season—not a wise decision, but Chizik doesn't have much else to work with.  

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Battle: Joe Bauserman vs Kenny Guiton vs. Taylor Graham vs. Braxton Miller

The Ohio State Buckeyes were put in a bind when Terrelle Pryor quit the team, and replacing him will not be easy. Bauserman is the one with the most experience and will more than likely start in Week 1. 

But Miller, the true freshman, continues to impress for the Buckeyes. He enrolled early and flourished in spring practice. The Buckeyes still have a talented team, but the quarterback will have to make plays.

Don't be surprised if Miller wins the job over Bauserman in the first few weeks of the season. 

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Battle: Dayne Crist vs. Tommy Rees 

Head coach Brian Kelly has had a long time to figure out who should start for Notre Dame. He even put cameras on the players' helmets to help improve the quarterbacks' game. 

Crist is the senior who has had two knee injuries—one of them in 2010, leading to Rees seeing action as a freshman. Kelly will pick a starter 10 days before the start of the season, which isn't too far from now. 

The Fighting Irish are poised to have one of their best seasons yet, but Kelly has to make sure he is putting in the best possible starter. 

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Battle: A.J. McCarron vs. Phillip Sims 

No other team in the country has a more important quarterback battle than the Crimson Tide. The preseason No. 2 is expected to reach the BCS National Championship game, and to get there they need a quarterback that can win.

Nick Saban has his hands full and will soon have to decide on a starter. McCarron was the early favorite, but Sims has come on strong as of late.

Whoever starts for the Tide will feel good knowing they have Trent Richardson to help ease their transition. McCarron and Sims don't need to be stars, but they do have to make clutch plays when called upon.