Ty Simpson's long road from Alabama backup to Heisman hopeful - ESPN

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On Jan. 10, 2024, two days after backup quarterback Ty Simpson decided to remain at Alabama rather than transfer, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, ending his remarkable 17-year run at the school that included six national championships.

Even though Saban was no longer in charge, he still found time to give Simpson one more ass chewing while he was cleaning out his office.

Many times during the previous two seasons, when Simpson was stuck behind starters Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, Saban warned him about being too focused on the outcome and what others were doing rather than trying to improve.

«To be honest with you, it kind of pissed me off because I didn't think it made any sense,» Simpson said. «I thought he just wanted me out of his office.»

That was Saban's departing message to Simpson as well.

«He was brutally honest,» Simpson said. «He was like, 'You're such a good kid. I'm a huge fan and love you, but you have to take that next step. You can't be doing this.'»

Simpson's meteoric rise from being a player who couldn't get on the field to having the third-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy and being a potential top-5 pick in the 2026 NFL draft wasn't easy.

After a stunning season-opening slip against Florida State, the No. 4 Crimson Tide (8-1, 6-0 SEC) have won eight games in a row heading into Saturday's SEC showdown against No. 12 Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2) at Bryant-Denny Stadium (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

«I think that if we don't lose that first game, we wouldn't be where we are, to be honest with you,» Simpson said. «I think the first game made us self-reflect and made us understand, like, 'All right, what are we going to do now?'»

WHEN ALABAMA SIGNED Simpson, it was widely