Simpson Shines as Alabama Rolls Wisconsin

TUSCALOOSA, AL. - The Crimson Tide responded to the doubters last week as Alabama dominated ULM 73-0 under the lights in Bryant-Denny Stadium. However, the Crimson Tide did it against a group of five opponent. If Alabama wanted to silence its doubters, it would need to do it again this week against a Big Ten opponent - the Wisconsin Badgers.

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The Crimson Tide started sluggishly, gaining just eight yards on Alabama's first drive after the Crimson Tide defense held on for an opening drive three-and-out. But the Alabama defense decided the Crimson Tide's offense wasn't done with the ball, with veteran safety Bray Hubbard picking off Badger quarterback Danny O'Neil to give Alabama's offense the ball again.

On the Tide's second drive, Ty Simpson found Ryan Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, and Germie Bernard to keep the ball moving down the field, and it was capped on fourth down when Ty Simpson, under center, turned around and handed the ball off to Bernard, who fought his way into the endzone for a Crimson Tide score.

Midway through the second quarter, Alabama hit the gas on both sides of the ball. A pair of sacks by Qua Russaw and London Simmons set the Tide up in good field position, and Ty Simpson marched the offense down the field in just one minute and 46 seconds. The drive was capped by a Ty Simpson touchdown pass (his first of the day) to Germie Bernard for a 43-yard score.

Bernard exceeded his touchdown total from the 2024 season in the victory over Wisconsin. Bernard had three touchdowns last season, and Bernard had four after the second quarter.

Alabama wasn't content just taking a two-score lead into halftime, with the Crimson Tide's quarterback wheeling and dealing during the two-minute drill. Ty Simpson completed a 22-yard pass to Ryan Williams, a 16-yard pass to Lotzeir Brooks, a 19-yard pass to Kevin Riley, and capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown to Isaiah Horton. Simpson, while he wasn't putting up flashy numbers, was incredibly efficient and calculated in the first half. He entered halftime with 192 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Alabama took a 21-0 lead into halftime.

It didn't take long for Alabama to enforce its will in the second half, with the Crimson Tide's sophomore standout wide receiver desperate to find the endzone. Williams caught a throwback screen from quarterback Ty Simpson and navigated the lanes en route to a 75-yard touchdown for the Crimson Tide. The touchdown gave Williams his first 100-yard receiving yardage game since Alabama's 41-34 victory over Georgia last September.

Wisconsin immediately responded with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown of its own, ending Alabama's shutout that the Crimson Tide had pitched for the previous six quarters, dating back to last week's win over ULM.

The Crimson Tide waited just three minutes to respond, with Ty Simpson orchestrating a big drive (including avoiding three defenders to run for a first down), as he connected with Ryan Williams for Williams's second touchdown of the day (and the season). Alabama took a 35-7 lead just four minutes into the second half.

Bray Hubbard ended what was a promising Wisconsin drive for the Badgers, collecting his second interception of the game, and setting up Ty Simpson and the Alabama offense for a "dagger" drive as Alabama tried to put away Wisconsin and prepare for Georgia in two weeks.

Alabama didn't quite get the touchdown dagger it wanted, but the Crimson Tide happily took six minutes off the clock, getting the game well into the fourth quarter, and kicked a field goal to claim a 31-point lead to start the fourth quarter.

The Badgers cut into the lead, but not enough to worry the Crimson Tide, as backup quarterback Austin Mack finished out the game after Ty Simpson's strong performance in the 38-14 victory over Wisconsin.

Alabama Stat Leaders

Passing: Ty Simpson - 24/29, 382 yards, 4 TD
Rushing: Ty Simpson - 6 attempts, 25 yards
Receiving: Ryan Williams - 5 catches, 165 yards, 2 TD

Alabama improves to 2-1 on the season and has a bye week next week. Alabama will return to action on Saturday, September 27, when it heads to Athens, Georgia, to take on the Georgia Bulldogs.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.