Uncertainty Still Lingers at QB for Alabama Heading into SEC Play

Nick Saban and the coaching staff plan to evaluate the play of Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner in the first three games to determine the plan moving forward.

TAMPA, Fla. — Things are not great for Alabama at quarterback. 

That may be oversimplifying it, but it is the current situation in which Alabama head coach Nick Saban finds himself and his team in under new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. 

The No. 10 Crimson Tide managed to finally put away USF 17-3 Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium with the help of Ty Simpson, but a quarter of the way through the regular season, and Alabama still doesn't have clear answers about who should be the starter at quarterback. 

"We’re going to evaluate the quarterbacks that played today, and we’re going to evaluate Jalen Milroe in terms of how he played and decide this week who gives us the best opportunity to be successful as an offensive team, and that’s the way we’ll go," Saban said after the game. 

Here are Alabama's quarterback's stats through the first three games:

• Jalen Milroe: 22 of 45, 449 yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions plus 92 more yards and 2 more touchdowns on the ground

• Tyler Buchner: 8 of 19, 61 yards, 1 rushing touchdown

• Ty Simpson: 6 of 10, 78 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns

South Florida came into the game as the 128th-rated passing defense out of 133 teams in college football, yet the Crimson Tide passing offense struggled to get anything going all day. Alabama did not score a touchdown until the second half and finished with 107 passing yards and no touchdowns through the air. It was Alabama's lowest passing total since Jalen Hurts threw for 96 yards against Florida State in 2017. 

Buchner earned his first Crimson Tide start against the Bulls, but had a rocky performance. He went 5-for-14 for 34 yards and was pulled before halftime. He did not return to the game. 

On his final drive, wide receiver Jermaine Burton was behind the USF defense and in the end zone, but Buchner's throw was just out of his reach. 

Simpson came in to relieve Buchner and finished 5-for-9 with 73 yards and the game-sealing rushing touchdown that put the game away for the Crimson Tide. 

"I thought he did OK," Saban said about Simpson. "He made a couple really good throws, and he missed a couple big play throws."

This was Simpson's first ever game action at Alabama in a meaningful situation. He had previously only played in mop-up duty. The redshirt freshman quarterback was on the field for both of the Crimson Tide's touchdown drives.

His 45-yard completition to tight end CJ Dippre set up Alabama's first score– a touchdown run from Roydell Williams. The big play to Dippre more than halfway through the third quarter was more passing yards on that play alone than Alabama had total in the game up until that point. 

Saban was pleased with the way the ball moved when Simpson was in and the way he managed the game. The rushing game improved with some better offensive line play in the second half. Roydell Williams had a career-high 129 yards. 

After a Malachi Moore interception, Alabama got the ball with 6:29 left in the game and a seven-point lead. Aided by strong runs from Williams, Simpson led the Crimson Tide down the field on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that milked 5:56 off the clock. Simpson capped the drive with the quarterback sneak for a touchdown that put the Tide up 17-3. 

Milroe, who started the first two games this season for the Crimson Tide, did not see any playing time in the win over South Florida. Saban said Alabama made the decision to play Buchner and Simpson based on who did the best at practice this week. 

"I think that's an internal team thing," Saban said. "I think that everybody has the opportunity to respond in the right way when things don't go exactly like you want them to. We played the guys that practiced the best all week long.”

Alabama gave up five sacks in the game, and all five happened once Simpson entered the game. Saban clarified in the postgame that all those sacks were not his fault. Offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt said his unit has to do perform well in order to help out whoever is playing at quarterback for the Crimson Tide. 

"We just want to go out there and do our job," Dalcourt said. "The better we do our job, the more comfortable it’ll make it for anyone behind us.”

Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold said the team is backing 100 percent whichever quarterback is out on the field. He saw a lot of fight and heart from the quarterbacks Saturday night. 

Even though he did not play, Milroe was seen encouraging and hyping up his teammates on the sidelines throughout the game. He was one of the first people off the bench to congratulate Simpson after both of Alabama's touchdown drives. 

Jalen Milroe comes out to congratulate Ty Simpson and the offense after the game-sealing TD pic.twitter.com/yV5GV5114i

— Katie Windham (@katiewindham_) September 16, 2023

"Jalen is a better teammate and an even better man," Arnold said. "I would say for him, with all the people criticizing him, trying to say what they want to say about him, trying to portray him to have this certain image— he’s really been a great guy, great teammate. And he’s still preparing as if he is the starter. Jalen has done a tremendous job, and most people don’t realize how humble the kid is.”

Saban and the coaching staff now have film and reps with the first team to evaluate for all three guys, and a decision will likely be finalized soon, but not revealed before the next kickoff. Things aren't great now, but Simpson and Milroe have shown enough that things can get better. 

With three games down and SEC play opening next week against Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels, Alabama may not have things settled behind center, but it needs to figure things out quickly. 

"We have the SEC coming up next week, and obviously we have things to fix," Saban said. "And we’ll work on it.”

See also:

Nick Saban Provides Injury Updates After Alabama's 17-3 Victory Over USF