What could go wrong? The Athletic looks at Alabama football's worst-case scenario in 2025
Maybe "new" isn't the first word that comes to mind for Ty Simpson, the redshirt junior and former five-star recruit who was officially named Alabama's starter on Monday. Simpson has been with the program since 2022, but his next snap under center will be his first as a starter after backing up Jalen Milroe for two seasons.
In recent years, Alabama has had a fairly good run of success when it comes to first-year starting quarterbacks. Milroe's first full season, which included a bizarre Week 3 benching in the Crimson Tide's ugly 17-3 win at South Florida, saw him lead Alabama to 10 straight wins, an SEC championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Young's first season under center in 2021 saw him win the Heisman Trophy and guide Alabama to the SEC title and a berth in the national championship game against Georgia. A year earlier, Mac Jones led a blistering Crimson Tide offense to a perfect 13-0 season and the program's sixth title under Nick Saban.
And Tua Tagovailoa became a star even before his first start in 2018 after leading Alabama to a thrilling overtime win over Georgia for the national championship eight months earlier. He won his first 14 starts and guided Alabama to a fourth straight national championship game (the Tide were routed by Clemson, 44-16, in that one).
If we go all the way back to 2009, Greg McElroy, A.J. McCarron, Blake Sims, Jake Coker and Jalen Hurts all did fairly well for themselves in their first year as starting quarterbacks. McElroy, McCarron and Coker won national titles, and Hurts finished as runner-up to Deshaun Watson and Clemson.
Now that Simpson has officially been named Alabama's starter for its season opener at Florida State on Aug. 30, veteran college football reporter Ralph Russo of The Athletic has a question: What could go wrong?
Russo took a look at every team (subscription required) ranked in the top 25 of Monday's preseason AP poll and outlined the worst-case scenario for each one in 2025. For No. 8 Alabama, he brought back an old adage when it comes to quarterback competitions.
"If the old saying about having multiple quarterbacks means you have none, Kalen DeBoer's second season in Tuscaloosa could be similar to his first," Russo stated.
There are never any guarantees with first-year starting quarterbacks, but with Simpson beating out five-star freshman Keelon Russell and sophomore Austin Mack to start Week 1, I'm willing to trust DeBoer and the head coach's longtime offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
If Alabama's recent past with first-year starters under center is any indication, and DeBoer and Grubb are able to replicate their success from Washington with a different passer they helped improve (Michael Penix), the Crimson Tide are as well-equipped as any team when it comes to breaking in a new quarterback.
Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
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