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Why is Ty Simpson a Heisman Trophy favorite? 3 questions as Alabama QB faces November
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Why is Ty Simpson a Heisman Trophy favorite? 3 questions as Alabama QB faces November
The college football world has fixated its attention on Alabama football quarterback Ty Simpson .
Through his first eight games as a starting quarterback, Simpson has led the Crimson Tide to a 7-1 record and onto a College Football Playoff trajectory as a signal caller near or at the top of SEC and national stat leaderboards.
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National praise and NFL attention has come for Simpson as he and Alabama approach November games against LSU , Oklahoma , Eastern Illinois and Auburn.
What is next for the Alabama quarterback as he faces the final stretch of the 2025 regular season? Here are three questions as Simpson and the Crimson Tide their second off week.
Is Ty Simpson really on a Heisman Trophy path for Alabama football ?
Simpson is no longer a Heisman Trophy contender. As Alabama approaches November, the Crimson Tide quarterback is a Heisman favorite, one tied with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza for the best odds to win the award, per BetMGM.
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And in a national context, it makes sense. Simpson is the ninth-best passer in college football with 2,184 yards. He is one of seven quarterbacks nationally with more than 20 touchdown passes. And of those seven, he and Temple quarterback Evan Simon are the only ones with one interception or less.
Simpson has been as accurate as any quarterback nationally. And he's paired that accuracy with explosion, leading the Crimson Tide to 34.4 points and 410.5 yards per game against a schedule that has already seen four opponents ranked in the top-15 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, each of which ended in Alabama wins.
Simpson is among the best having played against some of the best. And that has landed the Crimson Tide quarterback firmly in the running for a seat at the Heisman Trophy table.
Could Ty Simpson play a role in Alabama football run game?
Simpson is no Jalen Milroe . Most of the Alabama quarterback's work in the run game has been on scrambles or broken plays downfield where all he could do is get a few yards with his feet.
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Simpson's stats tell that story with 79 rushing yards on 51 carries and two touchdowns through eight games.
But South Carolina felt different, even though his numbers — six carries for 13 yards — didn't look any different. Simpson looked more eager as a runner. There were times where Simpson would tuck and run where it didn't look like a last resort. On non-sack plays, Simpson averaged 5 yards per carry.
Alabama has the third-worst run game in the SEC, one that is averaging a meager 3.64 yards per rush. Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is already implementing everything he can — from sweeps to wide receivers to placing Kadyn Proctor in the backfield — to try and ignite a spark.
Simpson may be no Milroe. But could he play more of a role in the final stretch of Alabama's regular season as a runner?
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What is next for Alabama football after Ty Simpson?
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 11: Quarterback Ty Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide hands off to Jamarion Miller #26 during the first half of the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
A larger conversation around Simpson looms even outside of a potential Heisman campaign. It's one furthered with each 2026 NFL mock draft that has the Alabama quarterback among the top 32 picks.
What does life after Simpson look like for the Crimson Tide?
It's a question that Alabama will try and continue to push off for as long as possible. But a plan is already in the works, one clearly seen by the Crimson Tide's approach with quarterbacks on the recruiting trail.
Alabama has two quarterbacks committed in 2026: Nebraska four-star Jett Thomalla and Hawaii four-star Tayden Kaawa . The Crimson Tide also has one 2027 quarterback committed in Alabama four-star Trent Seaborn , while another — Louisiana five-star Elijah Haven — is already receiving Alabama predictions from national recruiting outlets.
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Alabama also has redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell , a room that continues to compete and improve according to coaches and players alike, a room that has impressed Simpson.
"Extremely confident that if something were to happen to me, that those guys would execute at a high level," Simpson said.
Simpson does have another season of eligibility if he wants one. But plans are seemingly in motion regardless of what Simpson's path looks like.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Three Ty Simpson questions as Alabama quarterback goes into November
