Ty Simpson’s Breakout Game Cements His Rise As Alabama’s Next Great QB
The Crimson Tide’s redshirt sophomore turned grit into glory against Missouri, drawing Finebaum’s praise and igniting serious Heisman buzz in Tuscaloosa.
Tuscaloosa, October 11 EST: There’s a pulse to this Alabama team again, and it starts right where it always has under center. Ty Simpson, the kid who waited, doubted, fought, and finally owned his moment, is now running the show in Tuscaloosa. On a humid October afternoon against a stubborn Missouri defense, Simpson didn’t just manage the game. He commanded it. He turned a knife fight in the trenches into a statement that the Crimson Tide might be done rebuilding and ready to start rolling again.
A Gritty Start, a Measured Hand
From the opening drive, Simpson looked like a quarterback who’s stopped listening to noise and started hearing rhythm. His passes weren’t the bombs of old Alabama lore not yet but they carried purpose. According to CBS Sports, he opened 10-for-14, good for 89 yards and two touchdowns, threading tight coverage like a quarterback who’s seen every disguise before.
When Khalil Jacobs came flying off the edge and planted him in the turf, Simpson popped back up with the smirk of someone who knows what it means to get hit and what it means to hit back. He found Derek Meadows on a dig route the very next series, a 12-yard strike that set the tone: keep coming, keep swinging.
That’s what separated him on Saturday not fireworks, but grit. It’s easy to play fast when the pocket’s clean. It’s something else entirely when you’re being hunted by one of the best defensive fronts in college football and still deliver strike after strike.
The Stadium Goes Silent
Then came the moment no fan ever wants to see. Meadows, after snagging a Simpson throw, turned upfield and got leveled. You could hear the hit echo through Bryant–Denny Stadium. Meadows lay still. Trainers sprinted. For a breathless minute, the whole place froze.
Marvin Burks Jr., Missouri’s defensive back, was ejected for targeting, as reported by EssentiallySports. It was the right call, but it didn’t make the scene any less chilling. Simpson stood near the sideline, helmet off, hands clasped, staring at his receiver on the ground. For all the hype, the stats, the Heisman chatter this was a raw, human moment. Football giveth, football taketh.
When play resumed, Simpson walked back into the huddle like a man who had seen the cost. The next drive? Precision. Composure. Emotion wrapped in control. That’s when you knew the kid has grown.
Finebaum’s Fire, Simpson’s Proof
Nobody loves a hot take like Paul Finebaum, but this one lit a fuse: “If you eliminate the Florida State game,” Finebaum said on Saturday Down South, “Ty Simpson is the best QB in the country.”
Cue the argument shows, cue the Twitter threads. Still, when you look at the numbers 70.3% completion, 1,478 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just one interception you start to see Finebaum’s point. The ifs and buts of that Florida State loss fade a little each week as Simpson stacks smart, steady football against elite SEC defenses.
And he’s not doing it with flash. There’s no Bryce Young wizardry yet, no Tua Tagovailoa pyrotechnics. What Simpson brings is something Alabama fans have missed: control. The game bends to his pace. He dictates, not reacts.
Draft Boards Whisper His Name
The NFL scouts are already circling. Touchdown Alabama quoted one AFC scout who said Simpson “has a chance to get into the Round 1 discussion” of the 2026 Draft if he keeps trending up.
That’s not hype that’s film talking. Watch the footwork, the ball placement, the way he resets after pressure. CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson has him slotted at No. 25 overall, which, for now, sounds about right.
But let’s be honest: Alabama quarterbacks don’t get drafted high just because of numbers. They get there because they carry the program’s weight, the noise, the history and somehow stay calm. Simpson’s starting to wear that mantle.
Respecting The Challenge
Simpson knew what he was walking into this week. Missouri came to town with a defense ranked No. 2 in total defense, No. 3 on third downs, and No. 1 against the run, according to Tide 100.9. Before kickoff, he spoke respectfully of their edge rushers Zion Young and Damon Wilson, and those “physical DBs” who make every catch a brawl.
That’s not coachspeak it’s quarterback talk. It’s film-room talk. And you could see the preparation unfold in real time. Missouri tried everything: disguised coverages, delayed blitzes, spy looks. Simpson kept finding the soft spots, even when it meant living with short gains instead of highlight plays. That’s what winning quarterbacks do.
Heisman Buzz Turns Into Reality Check
Let’s talk Heisman. Simpson now holds third-best odds, tied with Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and trailing only Oregon’s Dante Moore and Miami’s Carson Beck, per BetMGM. He’s in the conversation but conversation doesn’t win trophies.
The coming gauntlet will tell the story: Tennessee, LSU, Auburn. Rivalries. Road noise. Chaos. That’s where legends are carved. That’s where Alabama quarterbacks go from “promising” to “immortal.”
If Simpson keeps delivering at this level and if the Tide stay in playoff contention you can bet Heisman voters will be watching. Closely.
From Question Mark To Exclamation Point
It wasn’t that long ago that Alabama fans weren’t sure who their quarterback really was. The dynasty felt like it was holding its breath. Now, the Tide have found a leader who doesn’t flinch. The throws are sharp, the leadership sharper.
You can feel it in the standsthat collective belief creeping back in. That sense that maybe, just maybe, the next great Alabama quarterback isn’t coming. He’s here.
The numbers tell one story, but the eyes tell another: this is a quarterback who’s taken every punch, heard every doubt, and still stands tall in the pocket. And when the next blitz comes because it will you can bet Ty Simpson won’t blink.
He’ll deliver, as he did today, from the heart of the fight.
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A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.
