Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was sent to the bench for the second half of his team’s College Football Playoff showdown against Indiana in Thursday’s Rose Bowl — which some believe was more of a play-related benching than an injury designation.
ESPN reported that Simpson was benched in favor of Austin Mack early in the third quarter. Broadcasters reported that Simpson tried to play through after taking a big hit before halftime, though his injury was not specified.
Alabama was trailing the No. 1 seed Indiana 24-0 at the time Simpson was taken out. He completed 12-of-16 passes for 67 yards with no touchdowns. Simpson also ran three times for 17 yards and lost a fumble.
Differing Reports After Ty Simpson Benched
There were differing reports on whether Simpson was benched due to play-related reasons or injury. After On3 shared a message on Twitter saying the Alabama quarterback had been benched, On3 reporter Blake Byler corrected his outlet and noted that it was indeed injury-related.
“Ty Simpson has been in and out of the medical tent all game,” Byler wrote in a reply on X. “Much more injury-related than a benching.”
But others suggested Alabama did bench Simpson due to his play, noting that the team had him play the first drive of the second half before benching him in favor of Mack.
Yahoo Sports noted that both injury and play were cited as the reason for Simpson’s benching.
“Alabama starting QB Ty Simpson has been benched as part of a coach’s decision, per the ESPN broadcast,” the outlet noted in a post on X. “Backup QB Austin Mack is now in the game after Simpson briefly went into the injury tent.”
Simpson appeared upset after being benched, taking off his helmet in frustration.
Mack did not see much action for Alabama in 2025, appearing in just three games this season and completing 13-of-16 passes for 125 yards with two touchdowns.
Mack did make an immediate impact in the Rose Bowl, leading the team on a nine-play drive for 65 yards to end in a field goal.
Ty Simpson Had Embraced Underdog Role
Going into Thursday’s game, Simpson said he was finding motivation from Alabama’s unusual spot in college football — big underdogs. Indiana earned the top seed with its undefeated season, while Alabama needed a late surge to earn a spot on the College Football Playoff field.
“All the noise of us not being a good team, not being tough, shouldn’t be in the Playoff, made us feel some type of way,” Simpson said at Rose Bowl Media Day. …”Being an underdog, playing against the No. 1 team, you gotta love that.”
It could be a rough ending for Simpson, who was seen as a Heisman candidate late in the season.
“Simpson was a Heisman favorite midway through the season as Alabama quickly rebounded from its Week 1 loss to Florida State,” noted reporter Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports. “But he faded from the trophy discussion down the stretch even as Alabama got into the College Football Playoff despite an SEC title game loss to Georgia.”
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