If you’re asking who was Alabama’s QB last year, you’re probably trying to keep track of the chaotic transition from the Nick Saban era to the Kalen DeBoer years. Honestly, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind in Tuscaloosa. Depending on exactly which "last year" you mean—given that we’re sitting in early 2026—the answer is almost certainly Ty Simpson, though Jalen Milroe’s shadow still looms large over the program.
The 2025 season was a massive pivot point for the Crimson Tide.
For the longest time, everyone assumed Jalen Milroe would just keep the engine running forever. But after the 2024 season, where Milroe put up some gaudy numbers but struggled with consistency in the new offensive system, the torch finally passed. Ty Simpson, the man who waited his turn through three different offensive coordinators and a legendary coaching change, finally took the reins as the undisputed starter for the 2025 campaign.
The Ty Simpson Era: Making Sense of the 2025 Stats
Ty Simpson wasn't just a placeholder. He was a revelation for an offense that needed to air it out. Under Kalen DeBoer, the offense shifted away from the heavy ground-and-pound reliance we sometimes saw and moved toward a high-volume passing attack.
Simpson finished the 2025 season with some pretty eye-popping numbers:
💡 You might also like: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
- Total Passing Yards: 3,268
- Passing Touchdowns: 26
- Key Performance: A massive 326-yard game against Oklahoma.
It wasn't all sunshine, though. If you watched the first matchup against the Sooners, you saw the growing pains. Simpson threw a costly pick-six to Eli Bowen that basically handed Oklahoma a 23-21 win. It was one of those "welcome to the SEC" moments that reminded everyone that even a redshirt junior with three years of prep can still get baited by a clever secondary.
But let’s be real. Simpson’s journey is rare. In the age of the transfer portal, nobody stays. You’re a backup for one year? You leave. You don’t get the start? You leave. Simpson stayed through Bryce Young. He stayed through Jalen Milroe. He even stayed through the coaching change that brought in Austin Mack from Washington. That kind of loyalty is basically a myth in modern college football.
What Happened to Jalen Milroe?
To understand who was Alabama’s QB last year, you have to look back at the 2024 season, which was the bridge between the old and the new. Milroe was the guy then. He was the dual-threat monster who threw for 2,849 yards and rushed for another 700+ in 2024.
The transition to DeBoer’s system in 2024 was fascinating. Milroe actually improved his completion percentage to over 64%, but there was always this sense that the fit wasn't 100% perfect. DeBoer wants a distributor. Milroe is a creator. By the time the 2024 Rose Bowl and the subsequent transition happened, it became clear that while Milroe was a legend in his own right, the future of the DeBoer "Air Raid" variation was going to require someone with Simpson’s specific pocket profile.
📖 Related: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
Milroe eventually moved on to the NFL, leaving a massive void that Simpson filled throughout 2025. It’s funny how fast things move. One minute we’re talking about "LANK" (Let A Naysayer Know) and Milroe’s miracle against Auburn, and the next, we’re analyzing Ty Simpson’s footwork in a 10-3 season.
The Depth Chart Shuffles
Behind Simpson in 2025, the room looked a lot different than the Saban years. Austin Mack, who followed DeBoer from Washington, was the primary backup and saw some limited action. You also had young guns like Dylan Lonergan and the highly-touted Keelon Russell waiting in the wings.
- Ty Simpson (Starter): The veteran who finally got his shot.
- Austin Mack (Backup): The "system" guy who knows the playbook better than anyone.
- Keelon Russell (Future): The freshman phenom people are already calling "the next big thing."
It’s actually a bit of a drama. As of right now, in early 2026, Ty Simpson is moving on, and the battle for the new QB1 is between Mack and Russell. It never stops.
Why the QB Position Felt Different Last Year
There was this weird vibe in Tuscaloosa last year. For fifteen years, we knew what an Alabama QB looked like. They were game managers, or they were Heisman winners, but they always operated under the Saban "Process."
👉 See also: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
Last year, under Simpson, it felt more like a pro-style shootout. We saw more vertical concepts, more aggressive shots on first down, and a lot more responsibility placed on the quarterback to make checks at the line. Simpson handled it well, but the 10-3 finish left some fans wondering if the defense-first identity of Alabama had shifted too much.
AJ McCarron actually weighed in on this during the season. He compared Simpson’s late-season slump—where he only had one touchdown pass in several games—to a basketball player losing their three-point shot. It was a mental hurdle. When you're the Alabama QB, the pressure isn't just to win; it's to be perfect.
Actionable Next Steps for Bama Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the current roster moves for the upcoming 2026 season, here is what you should actually be watching:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: With Ty Simpson heading to the pros, Alabama is likely to be active. If they don't land a veteran, it’s a straight shootout between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.
- Watch the A-Day Game: This will be the first real look at Keelon Russell’s development. If he looks like a superstar, the "Mack vs. Russell" debate will set the message boards on fire.
- Follow Kalen DeBoer’s Pressers: He’s been much more vocal about "rhythm" and "offensive identity" lately. Listen for whether he wants a runner or a pure pocket passer for the 2026 scheme.
The 2025 season gave us the answer to who was Alabama’s QB last year, but the answer for this year is still very much up in the air.