Ty Simpson solidifies spot as Alabama's QB1 with record-breaking first half vs. ULM

After a disappointing offensive performance a week ago in the loss to Florida State, there were plenty who questioned whether Kalen DeBoer should make an early QB change. Ty Simpson wasn't the problem a week ago, but he was far from the solution, either. Rumors swirled heading into the Tide's Week 2 matchup against UL Monroe that both Austin Mack and Keelon Russell could play this week, regardless of the circumstances.

Simpson made sure that the game was well out of reach before anyone else got a snap at QB.

Alabama scored four touchdowns on its first four offensive possessions. Redshirt sophomore Austin Mack got into the game for the fifth series, leading another touchdown drive. Simpson came back in for the final drive of the half, leading the Crimson Tide to yet another touchdown and a 42-0 halftime lead.

For Simpson, he completed all 17 of his pass attempts, which set a new Alabama record:

Simpson threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and ran in another in a dominant first half that solidified his standing as the team's QB1. He threw touchdown passes to Germie Bernard (x2) and Isaiah Horton. He did all of that damage without star WR Ryan Williams, who missed the game after suffering a concussion a week ago.

Simpson's last touchdown of the night was perhaps the best throw of his career. He stepped up in the pocket, rolled to his right, and delivered a strike to Horton for six:

Ty Simpson is in no danger of losing his starting QB job

Had the offense struggled this week, Simpson's job could have been in jeopardy. Nobody was happy with the performance a week ago - not Simpson, and certainly not DeBoer and the rest of the coaching staff.

I think they used Mack/Russell potentially getting in the game as motivation for the redshirt junior signal-caller. It worked. He responded as they hoped he would. He played a perfect first half before giving way to his young backups for the remainder of the night.

Simpson will continue getting better and better with reps. Obviously, UL Monroe is not the same caliber of opponent as Florida State, but Simpson seemed to trust himself more this week. The coaches wanted him to let it rip, and he certainly did that on his way to a record-breaking and dominant first half of football in Tuscaloosa.