Alabama Worried About QB Ty Simpson Before SEC Title Game

Alabama and Georgia are meeting again for the SEC Championship, but this time Alabama has a big question to answer at quarterback. Ty Simpson has played well for most of the year, but his late-season mistakes are now a real concern. Even Alabama legend Mark Ingram is worried about how the young QB will handle the spotlight.

Alabama beat Georgia earlier in Week 5, and fans hoped the Tide could do it again in the title game. But things have changed since then. Ty Simpson has thrown three of his four total interceptions in the last three games. That trend has caught the attention of Ingram, who says defenses now know how to throw Simpson off his game.

“You affect Ty Simpson by bringing pressure,” Ingram said on the Triple Option Podcast. “Oklahoma did it. When you break the rhythm of this offense, that’s how you slow Alabama down.”

Against Oklahoma, Alabama finally ran the ball well and scored two rushing touchdowns. But the passing game struggled in key moments. Ty Simpson threw for 326 yards on 42 attempts, but managed only one touchdown and threw a costly interception. Oklahoma kept hitting him throughout the game and sacked him three times. Alabama lost 23–21 after failing to score late.

The Iron Bowl showed the same problem. Simpson threw for only 122 yards on 35 attempts but did score three touchdowns in a 27–20 win. Still, the pressure was noticeable. Vanderbilt, Missouri and Florida State also sacked him several times this season. When strong defenses come after him, Simpson has trouble staying calm.

Georgia will try to attack that weakness. Even though the Bulldogs don’t have the biggest sack numbers this year, they still have a strong and fast defense that can cause problems.

Georgia’s offense is just as dangerous. Running back Nate Frazier has five touchdowns, wide receiver Zachariah Branch is a big-play threat, and quarterback Gunner Stockton has been very efficient with 20 touchdowns and few mistakes. Ingram praised Stockton for making smart decisions and protecting the ball.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer agrees that Georgia looks much better than earlier in the season. “They’ve found a new identity,” he said.

But Georgia head coach Kirby Smart also warned that Ty Simpson can still hurt defenses.

Saturday’s SEC Championship will be a big test for both teams. Georgia wants revenge after losing to Alabama the last three years. Alabama, meanwhile, needs Ty Simpson to stay calm and avoid the mistakes that have shown up at the worst times.

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