Nick Saban didn’t like the question. After Jalen Milroe threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another two scores to lead Alabama football to a win over Middle Tennessee State, Alabama’s head coach said that the quarterback will be helped by the experience.

When he was asked a follow-up about how the experience would help Milroe entering next week’s game against Texas, Saban wasn’t thrilled.

“So you asking me to speculate and answer a hypothetical question about how some guy’s going to perform in the future?” Saban asked the offending reporter. “I don’t really know. I mean I love him. I think he’s doing well. I know he’s working hard trying to improve.”

Saban continued to praise Milroe, who battled for the starting job throughout the offseason along with Ty Simpson, Tyler Buchner and Dylan Lonergan. He said the redshirt sophomore, who completed 13 of his 18 pass attempts was a fierce competitor.

Then, he picked up the room temperature plastic 16-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola that resides permanently on the podium in Bryant-Denny Stadium’s media room.

“This is a Coke bottle, it’s not a crystal ball,” Saban said. “How do you think he’ll play? Do you have any idea?”

After the reporter said he didn’t know yet, Saban emphasized his point.

“Hard to know,” the coach said. “It’s what we all strive for though. We want everybody to play well and we’ll try to prepare him the best way we can, but that’s why you play the games.”

Alabama faces Texas next week at 6 p.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be aired on ESPN.