Alabama Crimson Tide Finally Has Their Guy: Ty Simpson Gets the Nod

Well, well, well. After what felt like the longest quarterback competition since Brett Favre couldn’t decide whether to retire, the Alabama Crimson Tide has finally pulled the trigger on their starting signal-caller for 2025. Head coach Kalen DeBoer made it official Monday night: junior Ty Simpson will be taking snaps when the Tide rolls into Atlanta to face Florida State on August 30th.

And honestly? It’s about time someone made a decision in Tuscaloosa that didn’t involve a coaching carousel or recruiting drama.

Simpson’s Long Road to the Starting Job

Let’s be real here – Simpson has been waiting for this moment longer than most people wait for their morning coffee at Starbucks. The junior quarterback has spent three seasons watching other guys get the glory while he held clipboards and perfected his cheerleading skills from the sideline.

Remember when everyone thought Simpson would transfer after watching Bryce Young do his Heisman thing? Then came Jalen Milroe’s wild ride last season, leaving Simpson still holding that clipboard like it was made of gold. But here’s the thing about Simpson – the kid stuck around when half the quarterbacks in America would’ve hit the transfer portal faster than you could say “playing time.”

The Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback battle this summer was supposedly tighter than Nick Saban’s grip on process-based thinking, but Simpson reportedly stood out during the team’s first scrimmage last weekend. DeBoer even admitted earlier this offseason that if he had to make the call in a pinch, Simpson would be his guy. Translation: this wasn’t exactly a nail-biter of a competition.

What Makes Simpson the Right Choice for the Alabama Crimson Tide?

Simpson brings something the Alabama Crimson Tide hasn’t had in a while – patience and actual development time within the system. While Austin Mack followed DeBoer from Washington (because apparently loyalty programs work in college football now), and freshman Keelon Russell has all the five-star hype you could want, Simpson has been marinating in Alabama’s system like a good barbecue brisket.

DeBoer’s assessment of Simpson at SEC Media Days was telling: “He throws a catchable ball.” Now, that might sound like damning with faint praise, but in today’s college football where quarterbacks overthrow receivers more often than politicians overpromise during campaigns, accuracy is actually revolutionary.

The kid was rated as the No. 25 overall recruit in 2022 and the second-best quarterback in his class. His high school tape from Martin, Tennessee showed a player with legitimate arm talent and decision-making skills. Plus, his father Jason has been coaching at UT Martin since 2006, so football IQ runs in the family like bad knees in former NFL players.

The Pressure Cooker That Is Alabama Football

Let’s not sugarcoat this – taking over as quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide is like being asked to perform brain surgery while riding a unicycle. The expectations don’t just come with the territory; they practically have their own zip code in Tuscaloosa.

DeBoer’s first season was… well, let’s call it “character building.” A 9-4 record marked Alabama’s first season without double-digit wins since 2007, which in Alabama years is basically the Stone Age. The Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff for the first time since the expansion, and you could practically hear the collective gasps from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham.

Now Simpson gets to be the guy who either brings Alabama back to its championship-hunting ways or becomes the answer to a trivia question nobody wants to be asked. No pressure, right?

Supporting Cast Ready to Shine

Here’s the good news for Simpson and Alabama Crimson Tide fans: the kid won’t be throwing to walk-ons and hoping for the best. Ryan Grubb’s offense should be loaded with talent that would make other coordinators weep with envy.

The wide receiver room is projected to be one of the best in college football, which is saying something in an era where talented pass-catchers transfer more frequently than people change their Netflix passwords. Running back Jam Miller brings experience and depth to a position that has historically been Alabama’s bread and butter.

Simpson essentially gets to walk into a situation where he’s surrounded by NFL-caliber talent. It’s like being handed the keys to a Ferrari when most college quarterbacks are lucky to get a Honda Civic with questionable air conditioning.

What This Means for Alabama’s Championship Hopes

The Alabama Crimson Tide enters 2025 ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP Poll, which feels both generous and insulting at the same time. Generous because they’re coming off a disappointing season; insulting because, well, it’s Alabama, and being ranked eighth feels like showing up to a black-tie event in khakis.

The SEC has ten teams in the preseason poll – the most ever by a single conference – which means Simpson and the Crimson Tide will be battling in what amounts to college football’s version of the Thunderdome every single week.

Simpson’s success will largely determine whether DeBoer’s second season represents a return to Alabama’s championship-hunting ways or another year of “building toward something special.” And in Tuscaloosa, building years have the shelf life of milk left out in July heat.

The season opener against Florida State will tell us everything we need to know about where this Alabama Crimson Tide team stands. Simpson gets to make his debut on a big stage, in a primetime slot, with the college football world watching to see if Alabama is back or if the dynasty really did retire with Nick Saban.

No pressure, Ty. Just the hopes and dreams of an entire state riding on your right arm. Welcome to Alabama Crimson Tide football.