At a Glance
- Ty Simpson cracked a rib during the 38-3 Rose Bowl loss to Indiana.
- He returned for one series before handing the ball to backup Austin Mack.
- Austin Mack finished 11-of-16 for 103 yards, 3 sacks, and a short field-goal drive.
- Why it matters: The injury and the quarterback switch highlighted Alabama’s struggles in a blowout loss.
Alabama’s Rose Bowl outing ended in a 38-3 defeat to Indiana, with quarterback Ty Simpson suffering a cracked rib that forced a mid-game switch to Austin Mack. The injury not only hurt the Tide’s offense but also underscored the impact of player health on game outcomes.
Injury and Game Play
Simpson was hit by an Indiana player’s helmet in the torso, causing a cracked rib revealed by an X-ray at halftime.
Ty Simpson said:
> Felt like I had a good thing going on that drive when I got hit. It kind of changed the momentum for sure. Just ready to get back to work. I’ve got to get healthy and get ready to go.
He returned for one more series before voluntarily giving the ball to Austin Mack, who was 100% healthy.
Ty Simpson said:
> I made an executive decision and thought (about) what gave us the best chance to win. I thought Austin being 100% could help us win.
Simpson reflected on a previous run where he narrowly missed a first down.
Ty Simpson said:
> I knew I slid (and) I thought I got the first down. I was a half a yard short. Came back to the sideline, was (ticked) off. The competitor in me wanted to make sure I got the first down. Got more than the first down, and then should have been smart and just got down.
- Ty Simpson: 12-of-16, 67 yards, 0 sacks
- Austin Mack: 11-of-16, 103 yards, 3 sacks
- Mack’s only scoring drive: 65 yards, 9 plays, short field-goal
| Quarterback | Completions-Attempts | Yards | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ty Simpson | 12-of-16 | 67 | 0 |
| Austin Mack | 11-of-16 | 103 | 3 |
Coaching Perspective
Kalen DeBoer praised Simpson’s effort despite the injury.
Kalen DeBoer said:
> (Simpson) really wanted to try to go out there (after halftime). I know he feels like he let down the team, and there’s no way that that’s the case. He went out there, tried to battle. That’s who he is.
The Tide’s offense failed to score again after the early field-goal, marking their biggest blowout loss since September 1998.
Key Takeaways
- Ty Simpson cracked a rib, forcing a quarterback change in a 38-3 loss.
- Austin Mack finished 11-of-16 for 103 yards and led the only scoring drive.
- Alabama’s offense struggled, scoring only once in a historic blowout.
The cracked rib and mid-game quarterback switch underscored how a single injury can ripple through a team’s performance, leaving Alabama to regroup after a heavy defeat.
