Why Ty Simpson, Alabama responded to CFP doubts with an abundance of confidence

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NORMAN, Okla. — Ty Simpson slowly eased forward toward the microphone before showcasing a confidence and a swagger Alabama football has seen all season long.

The quarterback had just led No. 9 Alabama to a 34-24 College Football Playoff win on the road against Oklahoma, making the Crimson Tide the first team to ever win a first-round road game in the CFP. The question itself was a simple one: How did the lack of success from the SEC Championship Game fuel Alabama into this first-round win?

Simpson’s response was short. It was to the point. And it made Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer grin from ear-to-ear.

“I guess we can thank you guys for that,” Simpson said. “I mean, y’all kind of wrote us off in certain ways. So, appreciate that.”

Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson struggled to follow Simpson, pointing to his quarterback’s answer as the definitive one.

“I mean, Ty just said it right there. He just said it,” Lawson said. “You tried to write us off. That’s when we at our best.”

Doubt. Doubt fueled by being the underdog. Doubt fueled from playing in a stadium where, just over one season ago, the Crimson Tide failed to score a touchdown.

Doubt fueled by three losses that followed Alabama into the CFP, one that created questions about the legitimacy of the Crimson Tide’s place.

It’s doubt DeBoer said Alabama hears but never lets define them.

The SEC Championship Game is done, he said. Once the CFP began, Alabama had its opportunity.

Alabama can’t control its past, DeBoer said. But the Crimson Tide can control the “greatness (that) lies in the future.”

And that’s why Simpson was so nonchalant. It’s why he oozed confidence when he slowly approached the microphone.

“There’s enough confidence within our group to where we can see the doubters, we can see the naysayers and just go still play our game,” DeBoer said.

Alabama will take on No. 1 Indiana in the CFP quarterfinal at the 2026 Rose Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Ty Simpson, Alabama responded to CFP doubts with an abundance of confidence

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