The timer went off on Monday. The cake is out of the oven. Alabama football has its quarterback.

Nick Saban announced that after a months-long competition extended into the first three weeks of the season, Jalen Milroe had “earned” the role of QB1. His appointment comes before the start of SEC play this weekend.

“From a quarterback standpoint, this is all I’m going to say about this, you know, Jalen really showed the leadership that I was looking for during the game in terms of supporting his teammates and doing the things he needed to do. He’s had the opportunity to play. So have the other guys. Jalen played the best of all those guys, so I think he’s earned the opportunity to be the quarterback,” Saban told reporters at his first press conference after the USF game.

The Tide benched Milroe in favor of Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner and second-year thrower Ty Simpson last Saturday against South Florida. No. 13 Alabama (2-1) won, 17-3, but the offense looked disjointed behind a rocky offensive line. Multiple players cited Milroe’s leadership on the sidelines as a factor in Tampa.

Milroe started both of Alabama’s first two games, scoring five touchdowns against Middle Tennessee before falling short against Texas. The Week 2 defeat against the Longhorns showed Milroe’s big-play ability but also his limitations with two interceptions. Postgame, Milroe made it clear he needed to play better moving forward and stayed positive.”

“That’s what you love about Jalen, you know? Through the mistakes that he made, he never put his head down,” offensive lineman Tyler Booker said on Sept. 11. “He was always there for us. He always had a smile on his face. Even down to the last drive, he was like, ‘I love where we are. He still had that hope. He still had that drive. He still had that fight. That’s what I’m most proud of about our offense. Although we didn’t execute, we fought.”

Saban had said in Tampa he played the “guys that practiced the best all week long.” When asked if Milroe needed to show more leadership before UA played the Bulls, Saban doubled down on his initial statement:

“I made the comment and that’s the comment. He’s played the best of the QBs and that’s the way it is right now.”

For the season, Milroe has completed 27-of-45 passes (60%) for 449 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also run the ball 22 times for 92 yards and two more scores.

The redshirt sophomore was Bryce Young’s backup last fall, appearing in eight games and filling in for an injured Young at Arkansas. He started the following game against Texas A&M, producing three touchdowns in a close win.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].