I guess it depends on what you mean by “controversy”.
If you mean two guys had a legit 50/50 shot at landing the starting job than I would go all the way back to 2017 where everyone and their dog knew that Troy Williams was going to start regardless of the lip service given to the competition for the spot.
If you mean the clear #1 headed into camp it was Travis Wilson going into the 2013 fall camp as a Sophomore.