In Week 1, Alabama’s season looked like it might unravel before it even started.
The Crimson Tide fell 31–17 to Florida State in a primetime showdown that sent shockwaves across college football. Questions were immediately raised about Alabama’s direction under a new coaching staff, about whether the program was still elite, and most of all, about first-year starting quarterback Ty Simpson.
But six weeks later, those doubts feel like distant noise. Simpson didn’t just respond to adversity, he’s redefined his trajectory and reignited belief in Alabama football. What once looked like a potentially disappointing campaign is now morphing into a Heisman-worthy season, and Simpson is the engine behind it all.
Ty Simpson Turning Into a Heisman Trophy Candidate
A Rough Start — On the Surface
Simpson’s Week 1 performance wasn’t statistically bad by any means. He threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns against one of the best defenses in the country. But in the eyes of Simpson, and by Alabama’s sky-high standards, it wasn’t good enough. The Crimson Tide lost, and that’s what mattered most to the junior quarterback.
Critics were quick to pounce. The sky-is-falling reaction was loud, emotional, and premature — but in Tuscaloosa, that’s par for the course. After all, this is the same fan base that spent two decades watching Nick Saban dominate college football with machine-like efficiency. Under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, the expectations didn’t change, but the context did. In today’s era of the transfer portal and NIL, any team can be vulnerable, especially in Week 1.
Still, Simpson didn’t make excuses. He owned the performance, regrouped, and led.
Alabama Has Done Nothing But Win Since
Since that opening loss, Alabama has rattled off five straight wins — including three victories over Top 20 SEC opponents, two of which came on the road. That turnaround has restored belief in Tuscaloosa, not just in the team’s chances, but in Simpson’s ability to carry the Tide to the highest level of college football once again.
He’s done it with precision, poise, and growth. Through six games, Simpson has completed 70% of his passes for 1,678 yards, 18 total touchdowns, and just one interception. He’s performed under pressure behind an offensive line that has allowed 12 sacks, and still managed to deliver big-time throws and timely plays week after week.
Once left off ESPN’s preseason Top 25 players list entirely, Simpson now sits at No. 3 in the midseason rankings — and is firmly entrenched in both Heisman and NFL Draft discussions.
The Long Road Pays Off
Perhaps what’s most refreshing about Simpson’s rise is how he got here.
In an age where quarterbacks are quick to transfer at the first sign of competition, Simpson stayed. He spent three seasons behind Jalen Milroe, learning, developing, and waiting for his chance. When it came, he didn’t flinch. And now, he’s showing the rest of the sport what patience, preparation, and belief in the process can produce.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb deserve credit too. They’ve built a system that maximizes Simpson’s strengths:his accuracy, decision-making, and mobility — while also empowering him to be a leader. It’s a partnership that’s clearly working, and it has Alabama right back where it wants to be.
Back in the Hunt
Thanks to Simpson’s stellar play, Alabama is once again a legitimate threat to win the SEC, return to the College Football Playoff, and even compete for another national championship. He’s not just along for the ride, he’s leading it.
The junior from Tennessee has transformed what many thought would be a rebuilding year into a revenge tour. And in doing so, he’s reminded everyone that Alabama doesn’t rebuild. They define the word reload.
Simpson may have started the season with a loss, but don’t mistake that for failure. Because right now, he’s playing like the best quarterback in college football and the Crimson Tide are rolling again because of it.
Main Image: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
