What Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer said about Rose Bowl QB switch
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PASADENA, Calif. — Alabama football turned to backup QB Austin Mack in the midst of a 38-3 loss to Indiana on Thursday, Jan. 1, in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. Starter Ty Simpson helmed the Crimson Tide’s first possession of the second half, then yielded to Mack due to injury.
“Ty had an injury, obviously. He really wanted to try to stay out there. We treated him there at halftime. He gave it a series, and he feels like he let down the team,” said UA coach Kalen DeBoer. “But there’s no way that’s the case. He went out and tried to battle. That’s who he is.”
Simpson was not cited with an injury on Alabama‘s availability report at any point this year, but was less effective over the second half of the season. The fourth-year junior finished with 293 completions on 457 attempts (64%) for 3,500 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Against the Hoosiers, Simpson completed 12 of 16 passes for only 67 yards and lost a critical fumble in the first half that led to an Indiana touchdown. IU led 17-0 at the half, but Mack wasn’t much more effective than Simpson. Mack completed 11 of 16 passes for 103 yards and led Alabama’s lone scoring drive, resulting in a short field goal by Conor Talty.
Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Alabama football’s Kalen DeBoer said about Rose Bowl QB switch
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