Ty Simpson is gearing up for his first career start on Saturday as Alabama takes to the road to battle Florida State in Tallahassee.
Simpson has the full support of the fanbase. He's also got plenty of support around the country from non-rival fans. He's an easy guy to root for, especially in this era of college football. When transfers are now a dime a dozen, it's rare for a player to stick it out and wait his turn.
That's exactly what Simpson has done. He was patient. He could have left following the 2023 season after he lost the starting job to Jalen Milroe. He had an even greater excuse when the coach he came to Alabama to play for, Nick Saban, retired.
But playing for Alabama meant something greater to Simpson than the instant gratification that would come with getting on the field quickly.
Kalen DeBoer appreciates Simpson's loyalty. He joined The Jim Rome Show on Wednesday morning and spoke about his quarterback:
"If you're a fan of college football and guys staying put... this is a guy that's easy to root for."@KalenDeBoer on @AlabamaFTBL's RS Jr. Ty Simpson entering the season as QB1 for the Crimson Tide. pic.twitter.com/X5EAnngTVG
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) August 27, 2025
Ty Simpson's loyalty and patience has paid off
Simpson's loyalty and patience will officially pay off on Saturday when he steps onto the field at Doak Campbell Stadium to lead Alabama against Florida State. This is Simpson's team, finally. He was voted a captain by his teammates. The locker room is firmly behind him.
And now Simpson will lead the charge for a ready-made National Championship contender. He has everything he needs around him to find instant success. He doesn't have to be a superstar. He just has to be steady, and this team can go a long way.
Alabama's biggest issue at QB last season was the inability to take care of the football. As spectacular as Jalen Milroe was at times, he turned the ball over 18 times in 13 games. That's not a recipe for success.
DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb will hope Simpson can be more than just a game manager. Their offensive system is predicated on being able to push the ball down the field vertically. He won the starting job because they believe he can do that. But first and foremost, Simpson has to avoid the disastrous plays that plagued the Crimson Tide a year ago.
How Simpson has handled everything makes him easy to root for, and all Alabama fans will hope he walks into Tallahassee and balls out on Saturday.