“I lost my voice out there. I’m proud of the way we played. It took four quarters. They made a run there in the fourth quarter, and I’m proud of the guys,” said Kalen DeBoer, speaking after Alabama‘s thrilling win over Kirby Smart’s Georgia last year. It was their fourth consecutive win, and for a moment, it seemed the Tide got their Nick Saban successor. But the real test came next: Clark Lea’s squad, led by Diego Pavia, waited patiently, chanting ‘Dynamite’, their fight song at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. What happened next is nothing short of a fantasy chronicle as the mighty Alabama succumbed to Vandy by 40-35, ending a 40-year drought. This game was the true beginning of Kalen DeBoer’s season. And its tremors are still fresh in memory.

From then on, Bama’s season under Kalen DeBoer only went south. The team lost to Tennessee on the road, and who can forget their 24-3 humbling by Oklahoma, a team that was struggling themselves? Sherrone Moore’s Michigan delivered the final blow, ending Alabama’s leftover hope as DeBoer lost his first Bowl game to Alabama. The season ended 9-4, and the rumblings? Well, let’s just say that all’s not green in Tuscaloosa even now.

The team’s primary QB, Jalen Milroe, is off to the NFL, drafted by the Seahawks, leaving a void behind in Tuscaloosa. Milroe had his share of criticisms, but when you compare what Bama has got this year, you might refrain from making a judgment. For starters, the guy threw 2,844 passing yards last season and backed it up with a lethal rushing game, racking 726 yards. Now, Bama is expecting Ty Simpson to step in as their primary QB. And that could present problems not only for DeBoer but also for the QB as pressure continues to mount.

On the ‘Cover 3 Podcast,’ Dany Kanell, the CFB analyst, reflected on some similar concerns. “The wins the losses and who they came to, I think, what makes it below the expectations, right? Nine and three in all by itself isn’t that bad, but losing to Vanderbilt for the first time in forever, getting beat down by a very average Oklahoma team, that’s what makes it disappointing.” Now, that’s concerning.

The 2025 season’s schedule isn’t looking too pretty for Bama. They open on the road against FSU, then go to Georgia on September 27. Both these games are going to be tough, as Kirby Smart locks in with his recruitment moves, and FSU? Well, don’t expect them to be a 2-10 team again, since Mike Norvell’s job will probably be at stake. Apart from these games, they have got Tennessee and LSU on the slate.

In that scenario, Brian Kelly might be fighting to save his job too, after three years of achieving nothing with a team that is accustomed to winning national titles. To top it off, Auburn and Oklahoma could again give them trouble. Both games could be tricky for Kalen DeBoer, as we saw last year. So, the pressure will be there for the new Bama head coach, and if Ty Simpson gets the quarterback spot, it will trickle down to him as well.

Ty Simpson’s pressure increased after the Austin Mack revelation?

No doubt, Simpson is a former five-star recruit and has been in the system for three seasons now. Moreover, he has also seen a bit of action as he notched up 167 yards in six appearances last year and including a good game against USF in 2023, where he threw for 73  yards in Nick Saban’s offense. But is the QB good enough to lead Bama to the playoffs?

Crimson Tide’s reporter, Mick Gillspie, weighed in on the QB situation and the struggles that Ty could face. “I think they’ll have some patience with Ty, but if he struggles, then I could see them allowing Mack to come in. If both guys struggle, I could see Russell getting a chance if it’s a really bad year. But what you hope is that Ty just takes the ball and runs with it, you know, and I think if that happens—it’s a really tough schedule—but most of those teams, Alabama should be able to beat if they’re focused.”

Now, with Ryan Grubb as the new OC, someone who personally recruited Austin Mack at Washington. If Ty Simpson fails to perform, we could see the OC circling to Austin Mack, given the caliber of Mack, with a record of over 3,500+ yards for 40+ touchdowns in high school, we know he’s got the tools. That’s why, heading into the next season, the ball might be in Simpson’s hands, but so is the weight of Alabama’s expectations.