Tony’s take: Is Ty Simpson this good, or is he just on a heater?

Is Ty Simpson really this good, or was it just Louisiana-Monroe? Is he really this good, or was it just the return of Ryan Williams over the weekend? Is he really this good, or are Alabama fans just desperate for a reason to believe again that the Crimson Tide can be a playoff contender? 

Like a TikTok trend, Simpson’s popularity has caught fire over the past two weeks. Since his lackluster starting debut at Florida State, the Alabama quarterback has completed 41 of 46 passes (89.1%) for 608 yards and seven touchdowns over his last two games. 

That’s a college passer rating of 235.04, which would dwarf any other FBS quarterback if Simpson could just delete that disappointing loss to Florida State from his stat sheet. Even with the so-so opener, the redshirt junior ranks eighth nationally while leading the SEC with a 186.63 passer rating. 

Those stats are hard to ignore, and Simpson’s hype is beginning to do numbers on social media.

#Alabama QB Ty Simpson (6-2, 208, rJR) vs. Wisconsin

Poise in the noise. Phenomenal performance. pic.twitter.com/nsXvMPOTPg

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) September 15, 2025

Ty Simpson looking like Lamar Jackson
pic.twitter.com/oXYY1lSHMD

— Pick 6 Pack (@Pick6PackFB) September 13, 2025

Can Simpson develop into a true Heisman contender? Most believe that question will be answered in a couple of weeks when Alabama travels to Georgia for its SEC opener. If that’s the case, I’m feeling pretty confident that Simpson will still be trending by the end of the month. 

After all, there are plenty of questions surrounding this Georgia defense. 

Are the Bulldogs elite, or did they just blow out two Group of 5 nobodies before surviving a scare at Tennessee? Are they a title contender, or are they just coached by Kirby Smart? Are they unbeatable at home, or are they just fortunate Alabama hasn’t traveled to Sanford Stadium since 2015? 

On paper, Simpson won’t face anything at Georgia he hasn’t already seen this season. The Bulldogs rank 82nd nationally in passing yards allowed per game (217.0), below Florida State (173.0) and Louisiana Monroe (210.5) and just ahead of Wisconsin (224.3). Meanwhile, Georgia’s four total sacks rank below Wisconsin (9.0) and Florida State (6.0). The Bulldogs are also fresh off of giving up 371 yards and four touchdowns through the air against Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, who, like Simpson, entered the matchup with a hot hand. 

Games are played on grass, not paper. And early Heisman chatter is hardly a good indicator of national title chances. Just look at what happened with Jalen Milroe following his career night against Georgia last season. 

Still, there’s something different about Simpson’s success that feels more grounded than a simple viral trend. His success through the air hasn’t yet come against top teams, but it has featured a fair share of difficult throws. 

For example, the right-hander ranks second among all FBS quarterbacks with a 93.9 grade on intermediate throws, according to Pro Football Focus. Those passes between 10-19 yards past the line of scrimmage are generally hardest to execute. They’re also what Simpson will need if Alabama is going to pull off the upset at Georgia at the end of the month. 

So is Ty Simpson elite, or is he just on a heater? I guess we’re set to find out soon. That being said, I’d bet on the former.