Ty Simpson hasn't been thinking about what his next move will be, as far as what his football future will hold after the Rose Bowl this Thursday. The redshirt junior quarterback admitted this when asked by reporters on Tuesday during Rose Bowl Media Day if he plans to officially declare for the NFL at the season's end or return to Alabama for another season.
“I hadn’t really thought about it much, to be honest with you, just because of the big game coming up,” Simpson said.
This prolonged decision comes for Simpson after throwing for 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns during his first season at the helm as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback, garnering NFL recognition in the process.
Ty Simpson mum about entering the 2026 NFL Draft, focused on CFP
Multiple NFL analysts and talent evaluators have already projected Simpson as a mid to late first-round prospect on several mock boards ahead of April's draft. Simpson was once considered a potential Top 5 pick, but a late-season swoon saw his draft stock fall, though many still view him as a first-round pick in a relatively weak draft for quarterbacks.
A big performance against Indiana could boost his stock and sway him further toward making the jump to the next level.
If he declares, Simpson would be following in the footsteps of Jalen Milroe, Bryce Young, Mac Jones, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jalen Hurts as the next Alabama signal caller over the last 10 season to make the jump to the next level.
Simpson's potential departure could also result in Kalen DeBoer ushering in a new quarterback under center for the second consecutive season, with talented redshirt freshman QB Keelon Russell and redshirt junior Austin Mack set up to compete against one another next spring.
In the meantime, Simpson's main agenda remains to shock the football universe by successfully leading Alabama football to a victory on Thursday over No.1 1-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl during the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff on New Year's Day.