Key Highlights
- “The competitor in me wanted the first down.
- I should’ve been smart and just gotten down.”Simpson completed 12-of-16 passes for 67 yards before halftime and underwent X-rays during the break.
- He started the second half but exited after a three-and-out, saying he realized he couldn’t play through the injury.“I made an executive decision and thought about what gave us the best chance to win,” Simpson said. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTide backup QB Austin Mack played the remainder of the game, guiding Alabama to its only points on a field goal drive.
- Mack finished 11-of-16 for 103 yards. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer praised Simpson’s toughness.
- “There’s no way he let this team down,” DeBoer said. Before the loss, Simpson was projected as a top-five pick in the 2026 draft, including No.