Kalen DeBoer’s had one hell of a run over the last seven weeks. After that brutal season-opening loss to Florida State, where everyone in Tuscaloosa was calling for his head, Alabama has rattled off seven straight wins, including victories over four ranked opponents in Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. Ty Simpson’s been putting up video-game numbers while quietly positioning himself as one of the top Heisman candidates in the country. 

But during a recent appearance on The Triple Option podcast, Urban Meyer decided it was time to have a conversation with Kalen DeBoer that most coaches probably wouldn’t have the guts to initiate face-to-face. Meyer went straight at Kalen DeBoer for something he believes is a coach’s fundamental responsibility, and he didn’t hold back.​

“Coach, I want to ask you about your quarterback, and I made this comment on Big Noon,” Meyer said, looking directly at Kalen DeBoer. “I don’t see a player out there that means more to his team than your guy, Ty Simpson. And I want to get kind of upset because it’s our job to fight for our players. And you see what Ty Simpson has done against that schedule.”

Meyer’s tone wasn’t casual. This was a coaching legend calling out another coach for not doing enough to advocate for his quarterback. Simpson’s been putting together one of the most impressive seasons in college football. He has thrown for 2,184 yards with 20 touchdowns and just one interception while completing 67.8% of his passes. These are elite numbers, especially considering the gauntlet he’s faced. Meyer’s making it clear that DeBoer needs to be shouting that from every rooftop.​

Meyer kept pushing, and his frustration was obvious. “I see other players that, and it’s all due respect because everybody’s having fine years, but when they play nothing and then you see them invited to New York, I know that’s not a concern of yours, but you got to fight for your players.” That’s Meyer essentially saying that other quarterbacks are getting more Heisman buzz despite playing weaker schedules.

And it’s DeBoer’s responsibility to change that narrative. Simpson has beaten four straight ranked opponents. And he has done it with poise and precision. Those are statement wins, and Meyer’s point is that Simpson’s resume speaks for itself.​

“I think Ty Simpson is one of the best players, if not the best player in America right now,” Meyer continued. “You don’t see him sometimes get the publicity that he deserves. I look at that schedule. I look at what you guys have done. Do you fight for him at some point to say, ‘Hey, wait a minute.’ I know I always felt uncomfortable about that, but at some point, you have to fight for your guy. And this guy as a coach has done us forever. I don’t know if there’s a better player in the country right now than Ty Simpson.”

Meyer’s been around long enough to know how the Heisman race works. It’s about narrative and advocacy. Coaches have to sell their players to voters, and Meyer’s basically telling DeBoer that sitting back and letting the numbers speak for themselves isn’t good enough when other programs are actively lobbying for their guys.​

Simpson’s not worried about the hardware

Meyer’s making a huge deal about DeBoer needing to fight for Simpson in the Heisman race. But Simpson himself doesn’t seem all that concerned about it. When Jim Rome asked him directly about the possibility of flying to New York on December 13 for the Heisman ceremony, Simpson gave an answer that probably drove Meyer even crazier. “Would be extremely blessed, right? Would be a great opportunity. It’s super exciting, right? I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my teammates and everything they do,” Simpson said. 

“But I think back to the reason why I came to Alabama and the championship hallway that we have. There are only four Heisman trophies, right? But there are six national championships in there. So that’s what I really care about.” That’s a junior quarterback who’s watched Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe go through this program before him, and he understands what actually matters in Tuscaloosa.

The last Heisman winner at Alabama was Young in 2021, which means it’s been four years since the Crimson Tide brought that trophy home. But Simpson’s making it clear that ending Alabama’s national championship drought (they haven’t won one since 2020) matters way more to him than individual accolades.​

As of Week 10, Simpson is sitting at +325 odds to win the Heisman, tied with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza at the top of most sportsbooks, with Ohio State’s Julian Sayin right behind them at +350 and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed at +575. That’s a far cry from where he was at the beginning of the season, when nobody outside of Alabama circles was talking about him as a serious candidate.

But despite being one of the favorites now, Simpson’s keeping his focus exactly where it needs to be. “Just trying to win, trying to be the best guy I can be and making sure that I can do everything for my teammates that gets us winning and gets us to what we dream about for a long time and what our ultimate goal is,” he told Rome.