EL PASO -- What is probably the only thing both UTEP and Alabama have in common?

Most preseason polls will have 129 other teams in between the two, as the Miners have been ranked dead last in preseason polls, while Alabama is the top-ranked team in the country. Alabama is searching for back-to-back title victories, while the Miners are desperately seeking their first win in just over a season.

They find common grounds at the realm of each program—Nick Saban and Dana Dimel—who are unalike in their styles of play. However, both have chosen to keep their starting quarterback under wraps until the team breaks from the locker room.

Dimel told media members Monday at his weekly press conference that his decision between Ryan Metz and Kai Locksley would come Thursday after practice. But as the team concluded on Thursday, Dimel was still uncertain on a final decision.

“I haven’t made it up yet. I don’t know the answer yet. We still have 48 hours to decide who it will be,” Dimel said. “It’ll be a locker room decision. I’m not trying to keep secrets. I really, truly don’t know.”

Metz has the experience—three years of it—on the Miners’ team, but Locksley, a JUCO transfer with two seasons of eligibility, is the future of the program. Locksley, who was ranked the No. 4 dual threat quarterback prospect, is known for his ability to make plays through the air and on the ground. He was named the NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year after his 20 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns in 2017.

Metz, on the other hand, has battled for the starting quarterback job since he walked on UTEP’s campus. He has 23 career touchdown passes, just needing one more to crack the program's all-time top-10 list. He was one of 45 national college quarterbacks, and the first Miner quarterback, to be invited to the 2017 Manning Passing Academy, which is supervised by the Manning Family.

The Miners will end up making the decision one that fans won’t know until they hit the field on Saturday. Dimel also has a format that he will follow for the starting gunslinger. If the starting guy starts off sharp, Dimel will keep him in. And, even if he struggles at first, Dimel is willing to let him try and work it out on the field.

“It’ll be a couple; whoever starts will get a couple [drives],” he said. “If we’re ahead 14-nothing, we’ll probably stick with the guy who’s playing. So there’s no guarantee.”

As for matching up against Northern Arizona, the Miners are not taking the FCS-affiliate lightly in preparing for Saturday’s game.

“We’re not going to walk away winners unless we play a quality football game,” Dimel said.

Kickoff between UTEP and NAU is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.