Jalen Milroe surprised a lot of people by declaring to leave Alabama early, and settle for being a third round pick by the Seattle Seahawks, but now we might have a great idea why.

He had a front row to watch his replacement in practice who was even better than him.

Enter Ty Simpson.

The Oklahoma Sooners face the best quarterback they have played all season in Simpson, and they’ll have their work cut out for them to stop the Crimson Tide’s high-powered offense.

This matchup pits a seasoned, patient veteran against a defense that has shown flashes of brilliance but also vulnerabilities that a quarterback of Simpson’s caliber can exploit.

For Oklahoma, containing Simpson isn’t just about stopping one player—it’s about disrupting the rhythm of an entire Alabama attack that has found its stride under his leadership.

Simpson, a 22-year old redshirt junior out of Martin, Tennessee, lost his first-career start at Florida State, and rattled off eight-straight wins since.

That initial setback against the Seminoles was a learning moment, one that revealed both his resilience and his ability to adapt under pressure.

Since then, he has grown into the role with increasing confidence, guiding Alabama through a demanding SEC schedule with poise that belies the fact that this is his first year as a starter.

This season, Simpson has been one of the nation’s leading passers, throwing for 21 touchdowns and just one interception. Simpson has completed 66.9% of his pass attempts, with a high QB rating of 159.5.

Those numbers reflect not just talent, but decision-making and precision. His lone interception came early a month ago; since then, he has protected the football with a discipline that forces defenses to earn every stop.

For Oklahoma, facing a quarterback who rarely makes mistakes means they cannot rely on gifts—they must create their own opportunities through execution and scheme.

After sitting on the sidelines for three seasons, Simpson was ready for when his day would finally come. His work ethic and resiliency was something that impressed his former coach Nick Saban.

"I think Ty is a great young man," Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show. "I have all the respect in the world for these guys that stay in the program for three years, develop and wait their turn. I think that's the thing that Ty has done extremely well."

That patience is rare in today’s transfer-portal era, where top recruits often leave at the first sign of delayed playing time.

Simpson’s commitment to Alabama, even while buried on the depth chart, speaks to a maturity that now shows up on Saturdays.

He didn’t just wait—he prepared. Every rep in practice, every film session, every offseason workout was building toward this moment.

And now that the opportunity has arrived, he’s making the most of it with a command that suggests he’s been starting for years.

Per CBS Sports' John Talty, Simpson is the only five-star quarterback in the 247Sports recruiting era (since 2010) to stay at one program for more than three seasons before making a single start.

That distinction underscores not only his loyalty but also the faith Alabama’s coaching staff had in his long-term potential.

They saw something in Simpson that made them willing to let a highly touted prospect develop slowly, trusting that when his time came, he would be ready to lead.Facing a veteran quarterback has its challenges, and Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is aware of that.

When asked about going up against the Alabama quarterback, Venables said, “He’s been around the game, good instincts for it.”

He added, “Well-versed in what they’re trying to do and understanding what he’s trying to see. Great maturity, very decisive, great arm talent. Keeps them out of bad plays.”

Venables’ comments highlight the intangibles that make Simpson dangerous. It’s not just about physical tools—though he has plenty—it’s about football IQ.

Simpson reads defenses pre-snap, adjusts protections, and recognizes blitzes with a calm efficiency that disrupts even the most aggressive game plans. F

or a defense like Oklahoma’s, which thrives on disruption and pressure, facing a quarterback who avoids negative plays is a significant hurdle.

As good as the Oklahoma defense has been, they have struggled to create interceptions, ranking in the No. 90 slot in the FBS in interception thrown rate of 1.97%.

However, they did force two interceptions in their last victory against Tennessee before the bye. That performance offered a glimpse of what the Sooners are capable of when they lock in, but it also came against a quarterback prone to mistakes. Simpson is not that quarterback.

His ability to avoid turnovers means Oklahoma’s secondary must be disciplined in coverage and trust their eyes—any hesitation could lead to explosive gains.

With one of Simpson’s best traits being his ability to protect the football, Sooners cornerback Eli Bowen knows that they have their work cut out for them on facing Simpson.

Bowen stated, “He's very good at making decisions, not turning the ball over, putting the ball where it needs to be. He's one of the best quarterbacks we're gonna play this year."

Bowen’s assessment is telling. Even from an opponent’s perspective, Simpson’s command stands out.

He doesn’t force throws into traffic. He doesn’t panic under duress. Instead, he takes what the defense gives him, extends plays when necessary, and consistently puts his teammates in position to succeed.

For a cornerback like Bowen, that means no margin for error—every route, every leverage advantage, every snap must be executed perfectly.

Another key for the Sooners will be creating pressure to get after Simpson. Alabama’s offensive line has had its fair share of struggles this season, giving up 1.8 sacks per game, which ranks No. 65 in the FBS.

Oklahoma has one of the best pass-rushing defenses in the country, with a sack rate of 11.19%, which slots them No. 2 in the FBS.

This matchup in the trenches could decide the game. If Oklahoma’s front can win early downs and force third-and-long situations, their elite pass rush has a chance to rattle even a poised quarterback like Simpson.

But if Alabama’s line holds up—just enough to give Simpson a clean pocket—he can pick apart even the most talented secondary with quick reads and accurate throws.

The Sooners must be relentless upfront, using stunts, twists, and simulated pressures to keep Simpson guessing.

If Oklahoma can cover on the back end and force Simpson to hold onto the ball a bit longer than he'd like, the Sooners defensive front should be able to create pressure and affect the Tide's passing game.

It’s a simple formula, but executing it against a quarterback who rarely beats himself is anything but easy.

Simpson’s ability to climb the pocket, reset his feet, and deliver strikes while under duress makes him a nightmare for pass rushers who get close but can’t finish.

In the end, this game will come down to discipline versus execution. Oklahoma has the athletes and the scheme to challenge Alabama, but Simpson represents a level of quarterback play they haven’t seen this season.

He doesn’t need to be perfect—he just needs to be better than the defense for four quarters.

And given his journey, his preparation, and his performance so far, there’s every reason to believe he will be.