LINCOLN — Who's the starting quarterback?

The starter knows. So, probably, do many of his teammates.

The rest of us will find out for sure Saturday night at 6:10 when Nebraska takes the field against Western Kentucky.

The competition for NU's starting quarterback job among senior returning starter Zac Lee, sophomore Cody Green and redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez has played out just as coach Bo Pelini planned — in private.

“I really feel we have three guys we can win with,” the third-year coach said this week. “That's a great problem to have. The competition's been great, but that's about all I can say.”

Pelini hasn't named a starter at strong safety or left tackle, either — any position, in fact — so why think he'd handle QB differently?

Whatever happens Saturday, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said, remember this: “It's been a great competition, and it's really, really, really close.”

The QB race, while just another position battle for the Huskers in preseason camp, has captivated outsiders.

“I think it's going to be down to the last minute,” guard Ricky Henry said.

Well, if you're reading this, it's pretty near the last minute. And as all eyes look toward the quarterbacks for resolution, here are a few final items to ponder:

Maybe the competition really did make them better.

Former NFL coach and legendary broadcaster John Madden popularized the adage “If you have two quarterbacks, you've actually got none.” The same would seem to apply to three quarterbacks, but Watson isn't buying it.

“That's narrow thinking in today's world,” Watson said. “What we're doing, we're going to need all three of them this year. We know that. They know that. You can ask them — I'm very straightforward, very honest — and all three of them are going to be needed.”

Watson insists he's not stressed by the monthlong competition and that it's benefited all three quarterbacks.

Watson challenged Martinez to improve his passing, Lee to get better at running and Green to improve his management skills. All three responded, the coach said.

Senior receiver Niles Paul agrees.

“Each one of them pushed each other to get better,” Paul said. “It's exciting for me to sit there and watch.”

If, in fact, Martinez starts, what do the Huskers have to lose?

Part of Pelini's decision to delay an announcement on the starter involved his desire to prevent a circus-like atmosphere around the quarterbacks — and not just the starter.

Lee and Green went through this last year as Nebraska waffled in midseason, going from Lee to Green and back to Lee. They handled it gracefully, though, with Lee returning to star in the Holiday Bowl.

So if placed in such a situation again, Lee and Green, seemingly, would respond well and be ready when needed.

This decision was not based on anyone's ability to match up better against five-touchdown underdog Western Kentucky, which comes to Memorial Stadium on a 20-game losing streak.

Don't expect Nebraska to immediately ask a lot from its quarterback.

Without a set starter through August, Nebraska couldn't tailor its offense or its game plan in the opener to fit the strengths of its QB. According to Watson, it doesn't matter.

The quarterbacks are more similar than you might think, he said, and NU will take advantage of its considerable skill-position talent.

“We built our system to match the people that surround (the quarterbacks),” Watson said. “It doesn't affect what we do, because we're committed to a balanced attack.”

Still, the Huskers won't ignore the talents of their offensive leader. For example, when Martinez plays, expect him to run a few times.

“He's one of the faster guys we've got on the team,” tight end Ben Cotton said. “I think the defense would agree.”

Really, aren't these first two games just a glorified extension of the preseason?

No disrespect to Idaho, which beat Bowling Green in the Humanitarian Bowl last season and opened with a 45-0 win over North Dakota Thursday, but there's no real urgency for the Huskers to settle on a QB until Sept. 18. That's when NU visits Washington after tune-ups Saturday and next week at home against the Vandals.

Even Pelini said this summer that he'd like the Huskers to find one quarterback by Oct. 7, the Thursday night Big 12 opener at Kansas State. So perhaps this race has only begun.

Look for all three quarterbacks to play this weekend and next. Look for something else, too.

“I'm positive they're going to pick a No. 1 quarterback,” Paul said, “and whoever they put out there is going to be best for our team.”

Contact the writer:

402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com

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