There were legitimate questions about Ty Simpson's viability as the Alabama starting quarterback following an uneven offensive performance in the season-opening loss to Florida State. In Simpson's first start, he made some plays, but not enough of them. He wasn't the reason for the Crimson Tide's loss, but he also wasn't the solution for the numerous problems, either.
Rumors swirled in the aftermath about both Austin Mack and Keelon Russell potentially getting opportunities in Week 2 against UL Monroe. They did. Mack even rotated in during the second quarter with the starters. But Simpson made sure the game was already 28-0 before another QB got the chance to see the field.
There's no QB controversy in Tuscaloosa anymore. Simpson is the guy. Kalen DeBoer's faith and confidence in the redshirt junior are beginning to pay major dividends.
Simpson's stat line against Florida State: 23-43, 254 Yards, 2 TD, 0 INT - 188.5 RTG
Simpson's stat line the last two games: 41-46, 608 yards, 7 TD, 0 INT - 254.4 RTG
Over the last two weeks, there's no quarterback in the country who has played better than Simpson. He's been accurate, deliberate, and confident. He's throwing with more anticipation, beginning to trust the pocket, and letting it rip like DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb wanted him to.
We questioned after Week 1 whether Simpson was the ceiling raiser this team needed with so many glaring flaws on the roster emerging against Florida State. He has answered that question emphatically the last two weeks. This version of Simpson is 100% a ceiling raiser for Alabama; this version of Simpson can lead this team all the way.
Kalen DeBoer's confidence in Ty Simpson started in January
It didn't take much of a leap of faith for Kalen DeBoer to remain confident in Ty Simpson after his Week 1 struggles. That leap of faith happened in January, once Jalen Milroe officially declared for the NFL Draft and Alabama still chose not to pursue a quarterback in the Transfer Portal.
That signaled a faith in the current QB room - namely Simpson, who had served as Milroe's backup last season.
There were options out there, but despite some reports to the contrary, Alabama never pursued any of them.
Simpson's greatest tests are still to come. On the other side of the bye week, the Crimson Tide begins a brutal SEC slate that starts with a road trip to Athens to take on an undefeated and already battle-tested Georgia team that just scored an impressive road win over Tennessee.
Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma, and Auburn await after. The only guaranteed win on the remainder of the schedule is Eastern Illinois in late November. Otherwise, Alabama will face a team every week that is capable of beating it if they don't play to its ability.
Alabama might need to win seven of those eight SEC games to ensure a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Week 1 loss to Florida State removed some of the margin for error before the calendar had even flipped to September. With a league likely to cannibalize itself, a 6-2 record during that stretch would be impressive and place the Tide on the College Football Playoff bubble.
Just two weeks ago, things looked bleak for Alabama and for DeBoer's future in Tuscaloosa. Now, thanks to Simpson's rise - there's plenty of optimism for the Crimson Tide going into the bye week.