Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Taywan Taylor (2) makes a diving catch during their 46-14 win against Rice on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, at Houchens-Smith Stadium. (Austin Anthony / photo@bgdailynews.com)

Nick Saban has seen in recent years and again last week that Western Kentucky’s offense is capable of putting up big numbers.

And the Alabama coach, who came up through the coaching ranks as a defensive assistant, said Wednesday he wants his Crimson Tide defense to know the challenges the Hilltoppers will present Saturday afternoon.

“I think they have one of the best offensive teams in the country,” Saban said on the Southeastern Conference weekly coaches’ teleconference. “It’s beared out by the statistics that they have, the passing yards, the performance they had (Thursday in a 46-14 win) against Rice. I think this is an outstanding team.”

WKU scored 44.3 points per game last season, ranking third in the FBS. The 2015 Hilltoppers were third nationally in yards per play (7.23) and No. 1 in passing plays of 50 yards or more (16).

WKU (1-0) picked up where it left off from last year in its 32-point home win last week against the Owls.

Quarterback Mike White completed 25 of 31 passes for 517 yards and three touchdowns, while wide receivers Nicholas Norris (seven catches, 147 yards, two touchdowns) and Taywan Taylor (five catches, 165 yards) both had big days.

Saban and No. 1 Alabama (1-0) are practicing for that attack this week ahead of the team’s 2:30 p.m. Saturday meeting in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“They do a great job of throwing the football,” Saban said. “I think (WKU coach Jeff Brohm) does a fantastic job with the passing game. I’ve always had a tremendous amount of respect for him as an offensive coach.

“Their players do a really good job of executing. The quarterback does a very good job of getting the ball to the right guys on time. They protect well. They don’t have a lot of negative plays. They have a great screen game and a very good concept that’s very difficult to defend.

“This is a very, very challenging offensive team to prepare for.”

Saban was especially complimentary of the senior Taylor, who is the Hilltoppers’ career leader in receiving yards (2,669) and receiving touchdowns (24).

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Louisville native also has 160 career receptions, putting him 11 catches shy of Willie McNeal’s school record of 171.

“He’s an outstanding player – really, really outstanding player,” Saban said of Taylor. “He’s got great production, is a tough competitor, good route runner, good hands.

“The thing I respect about him most is his production and his competitive spirit and the way he goes about playing the game. He does a really, really good job. I think he’s as good as any receiver we’ll play against this year.”

Saban staying tight-lipped on QB situation

Saban hasn’t announced which of his quarterbacks will play against WKU Saturday and he said Wednesday that for the second straight week he doesn’t plan to do so.

The Crimson Tide played three QBs in its 52-6 whipping of then-No. 20 USC on Saturday night in Arlington, Texas.

Freshman Jalen Hurts was the most effective. He was 6-of-11 passing for 118 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran nine times for 32 yards and another two TDs.

Blake Barnett, who started the game, was 5-of-6 for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Cooper Bateman completed his only pass attempt for five yards. Neither rushed for positive yards.

Saban was asked Wednesday if fans can anticipate Barnett, Bateman and Hurts all seeing playing time Saturday against the Toppers.

“You can anticipate whatever you want,” Saban said. “… We’ll decide and have a plan for how we play the quarterbacks in the game.

“I’m interested in developing our team. I’m all for Alabama. I know that a lot of people out there think they have a right to know but I also know that some of the Southern Cal players said last week, ‘It sure would be nice to know who’s going to play quarterback for them.’ So I think that’s a benefit to our team.”

Saban warns against arrogance against WKU

Alabama opened as a 24-point favorite for Saturday’s game. That betting line has since risen to 28½ points.

Coming off a 46-point win against a fellow blue blood in USC, the Crimson Tide are overwhelming favorites to beat the Hilltoppers this weekend at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

But Saban said he’s cautioned his team against overconfidence against WKU. Earlier this week he referenced two Week 1 games in which Group of Five teams notched road upsets of SEC foes – South Alabama’s win against Mississippi State and Southern Miss’ victory at Kentucky.

“Hopefully we’ve got the right respect for the team that we’re playing,” Saban said Wednesday. “Western Kentucky is a very good team. They were in the top 25 at the end of last year and have a significant number of returning players that are very good players.

“I hope our players understand that, that people get beat by teams like this because of their arrogance and not respecting their opponent, preparing properly and doing all the little things they need to do to get ready to play their best.”

-Follow Daily News sports reporter Brad Stephens on Twitter @BradBGDN or visit bgdailynews.com.