Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has a big decision coming up about whether he will enter the 2026 NFL Draft after the college football season ends. But right now, his full attention is on the huge College Football Playoff (CFP) game against No. 1 Indiana.
At a media event on Tuesday before the Rose Bowl, Simpson was asked about his future. He didn’t give a clear answer, saying, “I haven’t really thought about it much, to be honest with you. Just because of the big game coming up.”
Simpson started playing for Alabama in 2022 but had to wait his turn behind other quarterbacks like Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe. This season, he finally became the starter and has done well so far. He’s thrown for 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns, completing about 64% of his passes.
Alabama’s next big challenge is the Rose Bowl game against Indiana, a team known for their strong defense. Simpson said, “They rarely mess up. It’s really impressive how well they work together. Everyone does their job. That’s why they are one of the best defensive teams.”
Ty Simpson’s response when asked if he will return to Alabama or declare for the NFL Draft following this season:
“I haven’t really thought about it much, to be honest with you, just because of, you know, the big game coming up...” pic.twitter.com/giyDHKSp4n
He also said Indiana’s players are always around the ball and work really hard. “Hats off to them,” he added.
Simpson’s season wasn’t always smooth. Near the end of the year, he struggled a bit, but he bounced back in Alabama’s playoff game against Oklahoma. Even though Alabama fell behind early, Simpson helped lead the team to a 34-24 win. That victory helped quiet critics who doubted Alabama’s toughness after their big loss to Georgia in the SEC championship.
“We had to prove people wrong again,” Simpson said. “There was a lot of talk about us not being a good team or tough enough to be in the playoffs. We showed we belong. This week, we’re underdogs again, playing the No. 1 team. That’s what makes college football great.”
Simpson said the key for Alabama’s offense is to stay calm and work together. “Our offense can be explosive,” he said. “We just need to do our jobs, communicate well, and not overthink things. When we do that, we move the ball well.”
The Rose Bowl between Alabama and Indiana will kick off Thursday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN. If Alabama wins, they will move on to the Peach Bowl semifinal for a shot at the national championship.
For now, Ty Simpson is focused on the game ahead—not the NFL draft.

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