Ty Simpson Eyes Rose Bowl as Alabama’s Season-and His Future-Reach a Crossroads
As Alabama gears up for its biggest game of the season, quarterback Ty Simpson finds himself at a pivotal moment-both for the Crimson Tide and for his own future.
With the Rose Bowl looming, Simpson is staying locked in on the task at hand. When asked during media day about whether he’s thought about his next move-potentially declaring for the NFL Draft-Simpson didn’t take the bait.
“I haven’t really thought about it much, to be honest with you,” he said. “Just because of the big game coming up.”
And it’s a big one, no doubt. No.
4 Alabama faces top-ranked Indiana in Pasadena on Thursday, with a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinal on the line. Win, and the Tide will meet either Oregon or Texas Tech in the Peach Bowl.
Lose, and Simpson may be walking off the field in crimson for the last time.
From Waiting in the Wings to Leading the Charge
Simpson’s journey to this moment has been anything but linear. He arrived in Tuscaloosa back in 2022, recruited by Nick Saban, and spent the early part of his career learning behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe.
When Kalen DeBoer took over the program, Simpson stayed the course. This season, he finally got his shot-and he’s made the most of it.
Through the ups and downs of a demanding SEC schedule, Simpson has thrown for 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns, completing 64.1% of his passes. His numbers don’t just tell the story of a quarterback with a strong arm-they reflect a player who’s grown into the role of a leader, one who’s learned how to handle pressure, setbacks, and expectations.
And there have been setbacks.
Late in the regular season, Simpson and the Alabama offense hit a rough patch. But when the lights came on in the College Football Playoff opener against Oklahoma, Simpson flipped the switch. Down 17-0 early in Norman, he found his rhythm and led the Tide to a 34-24 comeback win-one that silenced a lot of doubters after Alabama’s blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC title game.
“We had to prove people wrong again,” Simpson said. “All the noise of just not being a good team, us not being tough, we shouldn’t be in the playoffs.
We come out with a win. Same thing here this week, being an underdog, playing against the No. 1 team, you got to love that.
That’s why you play college football, why you come to the University of Alabama.”
Locked In on Indiana
Simpson knows what’s waiting on the other side of Thursday’s game-NFL scouts, draft boards, and a decision that could change the course of his career. But right now, he’s focused on Indiana, a team he clearly respects.
“Disciplined,” Simpson said when asked what stands out about the Hoosiers. “Rarely do they mess up.
It’s quite impressive how well they play together. Everybody does their job very, very well.
That’s why they’re very high on the defensive statistics of the ball.”
He didn’t stop there.
“Also how hard they play. Their guys are flying around.
There’s always one or two or three or four guys at the ball. It’s really, really impressive what they do so well.
Hats off to them.”
Indiana’s defense will be one of the toughest Simpson has faced all year. But he’s not backing down. If anything, he seems energized by the challenge.
“Our offense is very explosive,” Simpson said. “We just got to do our job.
We got to understand that when everybody communicates, does their job, not make things bigger than what they are, we’ll go up the field. That’s what we’ve shown.
We’ve shown spurts of it. It’s not as consistent as we want it to be.
Better late than never to get fired up. Very excited for the opportunity.”
One Last Shot-or Just the Beginning?
Thursday’s Rose Bowl isn’t just a playoff game-it’s a defining moment for Ty Simpson. If Alabama wins, the journey continues with a shot at a national title. If not, Simpson’s next snap might come on an NFL field.
For now, he’s not looking past the Hoosiers. And maybe that’s the right mindset. Because in college football, especially at Alabama, legacy isn’t built on what you say about the future-it’s built on what you do when everything’s on the line.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT on Thursday in Pasadena. The Rose Bowl will be broadcast on ESPN.