Simpson Says he 'Always Has Something to Prove'

Through the first eight games of the season, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was on a skyrocketing trajectory for the 2025 Heisman Trophy and the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. Through the first eight games of the year, Simpson passed for 2,184 yards and 20 touchdowns to just one interception, and was in the top-three for the Heisman Trophy race, contending to be Alabama's second-ever quarterback to win the award. The Crimson Tide climbed as high as No. 4 in the country over the first eight games of the season.

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Since then, in the most recent three games, Simpson has passed for 750 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions. Alabama fell to Oklahoma at home 23-21, falling to No. 10 in the country, and questions have stirred about Alabama's offense. The Crimson Tide now has its back against the wall as Alabama prepares for a road trip to Auburn for the Iron Bowl. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson hears the noise, but isn't feeding into it too much.

"Everybody likes to say, ‘What happened to the old Ty? What happened to him?’" Simpson said after Tuesday's practice. "Just gotta go 1 for 1. Everybody’s wondering what’s going on. Nothing’s going on. We’ve just got to go play our ball.”

Simpson is now set to lead the Crimson Tide into Jordan-Hare Stadium for arguably the biggest game of Ty Simpson and Kalen DeBoer's Alabama careers. Does Simpson feel like he has something to prove in the Iron Bowl after 'coming back down to earth' following a red-hot start to the season?

"I’ve always got something to prove," Simpson said. "Everybody’s asking me, you know, what’s up? It’s in the back of my mind, but I’m just going to go do my job. What a great week to go do it against a really great team and a really great defense.”

Auburn has one of the best defensive fronts in the country, led by Xavier Atkins and Keyron Crawford, Auburn's sack leaders with 7.5 for Atkins and five for Crawford. In a game where points have been a premium for the last couple of years as two of the SEC's top defenses face off, every possession will be critical, and Alabama can't afford key turnovers in the match-up with the Tigers. Simpson recalled the Tide's mindset after the season-opener against Florida State, which Alabama lost 31-17. Alabama's mindset after Oklahoma is the same as it was after Florida State.

"It takes me back to the first game of the year and all the doubt that everybody had," Simpson said. "Takes me back to doing the little things and what got me there. Just trusting God, trusting my process, and understanding that I’ve done this before. There’s games that I’ve done it, and nothing’s wrong. I’m just happy to be out here and have gotten better today.

"I wouldn’t even say things are going bad. There’s just one play here or there that if we clean up, then we’re not even talking about this right now. I think people are blowing it out of proportion. We’re just going to go play our ball. We’re not listening to what anybody has to say. We’re focused on ourselves and doing our job, and that’s what we’ve been doing since the start of the season. It’s our mindset, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Alabama will face off against Auburn at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 29, at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.