THE INCREASE: Tress Way — Faith in the Locker Room

As Kirby Smart put it, the ball “does not hit the ground” when Ty Simpson is throwing it. The Alabama quarterback has lived up to that billing through three games this season, piling up nine touchdowns without an interception.

“I would say he’s probably the hottest quarterback, right now, in all of college football,” the Georgia head coach told reporters this week. “His two last outings, I don’t know that I’ve seen an incompletion.”

He’s not far off.

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After a modest opener in what Smart credited to sloppy weather (23-of-43 for 254 yards and two scores), Simpson found his rhythm. He went a flawless 17-for-17 against Louisiana-Monroe, then followed with a near-perfect performance against Wisconsin, completing 24 of 29 throws. Over his past two games, Simpson has connected on 41 of 46 passes (89.1%) for 608 yards and seven touchdowns.

Ty Simpson was DEALIN’ versus Wisconsin ☄️🎯@AlabamaFTBL x #SECFB pic.twitter.com/x53NZG5JXn

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) September 17, 2025

He’ll put his stellar run to the test on the road in Athens this week as No. 17 Alabama takes on No. 5 Georgia between the hedges on Saturday.

For Simpson, though, the numbers only tell part of the story. Behind his rise on the field is a faith that he says gives him his true confidence, both on and off the field.

“First off, I get my confidence from the Lord,” Simpson said after the Wisconsin win. “I pray before every game. I pray every morning before I go into the building — to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity to play at the University of Alabama, but also to give me wisdom and strength and just make sure I do everything the way He wants me to do it.”

“I get my confidence from the Lord.”

Love this from Alabama QB Ty Simpson! #RollTide https://t.co/8JYgC0laYg

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) September 15, 2025

Heading into Alabama’s season opener against Florida State, the redshirt junior shared the verse that has shaped his mindset this fall: Micah 5:5. The passage points to Christ as Israel’s peace in the face of opposition: “And he will be our peace,” the New International Version reads.

“I kind of take that approach of just before I step on the field, just taking a little second and praying and taking a breath,” Simpson said, according to AL.com. “Just being like, ‘He’s with me in whatever situation happens, He’s going to be beside me and I’m excited for it.’ Even on the practice field, understanding He’s with me wherever I go.”

It’s a peace that didn’t always come naturally. During the spring of his sophomore year, after a disappointing scrimmage, Simpson hit an emotional low.

“I just started crying,” he said in August. “I was just like, ‘Man, what is going on? I just don’t feel, like, it’s not fun to me anymore.’”

His father, Jason Simpson — the longtime head coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin — responded with a simple but probing question: How’s your faith doing?

“I had to sit back and I was like, ‘Man, you’re right,’” Simpson recalled to AL.com. “I’m more worried about how people perceive me in football than they do how I walk in my faith or how I am as a person.”

That conversation led to a turning point.

“I’m like, ‘I’m going to pray,’” Simpson said. “‘I’m going to give everything I’ve got to the Lord and make sure I understand that I’m just going to be the best player, the best Ty Simpson I can be.’”

That shift helped free him from fear and anxiety and set him on a steady climb that has culminated with him now leading Alabama’s offense into its toughest test of the season.

“Football means a lot to me, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I’m going to make sure I do everything because He’s given me this platform and He’s given me this opportunity. But no matter how many touchdowns I throw, no matter how many wins I have at the University of Alabama, I’m a Christian first.”

For Simpson, the connection between faith and football started at home.

“Growing up, [my dad] being a coach is what I want to be one day,” Simpson said on the “Hey Coach” radio show with Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. “The way that I saw him be in his program every day, see him talk to his guys just about one, being a Christian, just giving the Word to other guys has been really cool to me. Another thing is how passionate he was about football. We both love the game that brought us together.”

Simpson also looked up to Tim Tebow — another SEC quarterback who became known as much for his witness as his play.

“I loved the way he played, how passionate he was, and how outspoken he was about his faith,” Simpson said. “I thought that was really cool, and it’s something that I want to be now that I’m on this platform. I want people to know I’m a Christian first and then I’m a football player. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Kickoff between Alabama and Georgia is set for 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

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