Cal will begin this season just like the last one - with Nate Longshore at quarterback.

Cal coach Jeff Tedford finally decided on his starter for Saturday's season opener against the University of Tennessee. He made the announcement after Tuesday night's practice.

Longshore, a redshirt sophomore, won the starting job in preseason last year but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the first game.

He and Joe Ayoob have battled for the starting job through the spring and preseason.

"They both had great camps, (but) somebody has got to take the first snap," Tedford told reporters after practice. "It's very possible they will both play.

"Nate has run the offense very well. There wasn't a lot of difference between them, but Nate has been real consistent.

Longshore, who is 6-foot-5, 233 pounds, is a prototypical drop-back passer. He was a Parade All-American at Canyon County (Calif.) High School. After redshirting as a freshman, he won the starting job in preseason.

"Either way, I'm sure we'll both play, and we just want to go out there and execute the offense," Longshore told reporters. "I'm excited. We're jelling and we're getting each other's timing down."

He completed eight of 11 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown before he was injured in the season opener against Sacramento State.

Longshore was bothered by a slight back injury last week and missed several practices. Tedford wanted to see how Longshore performed in practice this week before naming a starter.

Ayoob, a 6-3, 223-pound senior, is better suited for the spread-option offense that Cal installed in the spring as a complement to its West Coast attack. He became a junior college All-American running a similar offense at City College of San Francisco.

"If Nate comes out and goes 10-for-10, I don't think I'll go in, but it's my understanding I'll get some playing time," he told reporters. "So we'll see what happens.

"It's not about who's starting or not. It's about winning games."

Third-stringer Steve Levy won't make the trip as punishment for his involvement in an offseason bar fight.