Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb have talked about it for a while now. So has Ty Simpson. If you didn't believe it, a new video from the sideline of the immediate aftermath of Alabama's 29-22 comeback win over South Carolina will tell you all you need to know about how close the Crimson Tide's quarterback room is.
Despite healthy competition all offseason between Simpson, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack, and true freshman Keelon Russell, those three have remained close and cheer on one another. There were no hurt feelings by Mack and Russell after Simpson was named the starting QB. They've been doing all they can to get better themselves and to help Simpson each game.
The competition brought the best out of Simpson. It's a building block for his understudies.
After Alabama staged an epic comeback win over South Carolina in the 4th quarter, a video emerged from the sideline of Simpson celebrating with Mack and Russell:
Alabama QB Ty Simpson shared an embrace with his teammates and quarterback peers Keelon Russell and Austin Mack following the win over South Carolina.
— Crimson Coverage (@CrimsonCoverage) October 27, 2025
“I love you guys. I love y’all!,” Simpson said.
The ultimate leader and team player. 🤝🏼 pic.twitter.com/hr5e5QRrCI
Simpson embraces his two backups and tells them that he loves them. There's pure exuberance on the faces of all three quarterbacks. The reaction would have been the same regardless of which one of them had led the improbable comeback.
Ty Simpson's leadership is always on full display for Alabama
Simpson's leadership has been evident all year. There's a reason he's got the "C" on his chest. This is his team, and his play has elevated the Crimson Tide from the depths of uncertainty following the loss to Florida State in late August to right in the thick of the National Championship race.
This is a flawed football team, far from the dominance once displayed during the peak of the Nick Saban dynasty. But that level of dominance simply isn't possible in this ERA of NIL, revenue sharing, and the Transfer Portal.
In a competitive league like the SEC, every week is going to be a grind. Alabama went through a gauntlet for five straight weeks, facing four consecutive ranked opponents before the ultimate trap game in Columbia last weekend.
They just keep winning.
Simpson isn't the only reason for it, but he is the catalyst. He's the calm hand amidst the storm. Trailing by eight against South Carolina with 10 minutes to play, Simpson simply made play after play, throw after throw, to lead the game-tying touchdown drive.
He doesn't blink in the face of adversity, which has allowed this team to follow suit in a complete 180 from how they performed in similar situations a year ago.