Ty Simpson Not Falling for Complacency

Alabama starting quarterback Ty Simpson has started the season strongly. Through the first five games, he's completed 70.3% of his passes for 1,478 yards and 13 touchdowns, to only one interception. He's also run the ball 30 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns, leading Alabama to a 4-1 record through the first five games.

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However, Saturday felt like a "down" performance for Simpson in Alabama's 30-14 victory over Vanderbilt. Even still, he completed 74.2% of his passes for 340 yards (second-most in a single game in his career) and two touchdowns, but he threw an interception (his first of the season) and was sacked four times. On Saturday after the game, Simpson shouldered the blame, saying, "Too many negative plays. I took four sacks. I can't do that. I got to throw the ball away. Like, that's unacceptable, you know? Like, my guys worked so hard up front, and I got to have their back and not take sacks when I'm trying to make plays. I got to protect the ball, you know? Throwing interceptions, like, that's ridiculous."

Simpson leads the SEC in passing yards, is tied for second in the SEC in passing touchdowns,16th in the country in passing yards, and is tied for eighth in the country for passing touchdowns. Despite the big numbers being put up for Simpson, which rival several notable former Alabama quarterbacks, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer doesn't see a reason for Ty Simpson to become complacent and expects him to battle against it despite receiving praise for his play.

"I don't think there's a reason to be complacent yet, because it’s still early in the season," DeBoer said, "and just that's the way we talk in the program. Just with it ain't good enough. Like, there's so much area and you're working on things. You wanna acknowledge improvement. You wanna acknowledge the ways that we fight. But from an execution standpoint, there was a lot of stuff that we can do better."

Alabama was stopped in the redzone twice on Saturday, leading to two field goals rather than touchdowns. Additionally, one of the four sacks Vanderbilt had came when Alabama was backed up near its own endzone, resulting in a quick three-and-out that gave Vanderbilt the ball back.

"I think Ty recognized that. He felt that. We're addressing it on the sideline. He can feel it. He knows what it's supposed to look like, and he understands. He's past the point now where he's gotta try to prove to people that he can do it. He's done it at a high level. So now it's about his leadership with our team and helping us be the best version that we can each and every week as we improve.”

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb also spoke of how Ty Simpson is handling success this season.

"Quarterback in general should be, take all the praise away and take all the blame, and I think Ty’s doing a good job of that, Grubb said. "And he’s a humble guy, you know, when you talk to him, and he understands all the improvement. Because I think what Ty sees, which is really encouraging, is that I don’t even know what, 300 and some yards, whatever he threw for, he can come into a meeting room and accept, and have an open mind to all the things that he could have done better. And really focus more on his process and what it’s going to take to play his best game.

"Because we’ve got, every week, we’re playing really good opponents, so he’s just gotta keep building that armor and understanding how to make himself a little less vulnerable in a few of those situations and then capitalize on some of the unbelievable plays he makes out of the pocket when he’s off schedule. So I think Ty is; he just grows every single week. Practice, games, all that, just like any quarterback that’s starting out. So I think, sky’s the limit for him."

Simpson's stats mirror those of the only Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback in Alabama football history: Bryce Young.

2021 Bryce Young (first five games) - 108-148 (72.9% completion), 1,365 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns.

2025 Ty Simpson (first five games) - 111-158 (70.3% completion), 1,478 yards, 13 passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns (15 total).

Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide will travel to Columbia, Missouri, to take on the Missouri Tigers this Saturday, October 11. Kickoff is slated for 11:00 a.m. CT.

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_.