Alabama fans hoped Ty Simpson could be an upgrade at QB over Jalen Milroe this season. As talented as Milroe was - and as high as his ceiling was - Tide fans endured some dreadful QB performances from Milroe a season ago, most notably in losses to Tennessee and Oklahoma.
No Alabama fan expected Simpson to be quite this good. Not only has he been a major upgrade for the Crimson Tide, he's turned into a Heisman Trophy contender and the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
As the Crimson Tide enters the stretch run of the regular season, Simpson has put himself in contention for some major hardware. While the Heisman gets most of the attention, the Maxwell Award is also one of the most prestigious awards in college football.
On Tuesday, Simpson was announced as a semifinalist for the award:
Maxwell Semifinalist 💪@ty_simpson06 pic.twitter.com/zHRzVS3voM
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 11, 2025
Ty Simpson named a Maxwell Award semifinalist
Alabama has had five Maxwell Award winners in program history. AJ McCarron was the first, earning the award in 2013. The latest winner was Bryce Young in 2021, who also won the Heisman Trophy. He did that a year after DeVonta Smith also won both for the Crimson Tide in 2020.
It's an honor to be considered for the award, and Simpson's hard work and elite play deserve to be recognized. He waited his turn in an era where no one does anymore. It has paid major dividends not only for him, but obviously for Alabama as well.
After an uneven performance against Florida State in the Crimson Tide's season-opening loss, Simpson has played at a ridiculously high level ever since. He's consistently wowed pro scouts with eye-popping throws week after week. He also has a tendency to do it when it matters the most.
Simpson has been lethal in leading Alabama's two-minute offense at the end of halves. The Tide has scored touchdowns in the final two minutes of the second quarter in seven of their nine games this season.
He's also delivered in the clutch in the fourth quarter. Simpson brought Alabama back from the depths of defeat against South Carolina, overcoming a 22-15 deficit with under 10 minutes to play. He led Alabama to back-to-back touchdowns to pull out a 29-22 road win.
When it has mattered the most, Simpson has made plays for this team. And he's done it despite an inconsistent offensive line and a nonexistent run game.
Simpson is Alabama's most valuable player. He may be college football's MVP, too.