The post Ty Simpson benched against Indiana: Explained why Alabama quarterback was removed from Rose Bowl game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The Alabama Crimson Tide were dominated by the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl, with the nation’s top-ranked team taking a 17-0 halftime lead to win the medal. For the second time in three games, Alabama was held scoreless in the first half.
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Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was removed from the game midway through the third quarter and sophomore Austin Mack took his place. It’s being called a coaching decision, although Simpson has been dealing with injuries that appear to be a factor.
Here’s why Simpson was benched and the latest updates from the Crimson Tide signal-caller.
More: Alabama vs. Indiana Rose Bowl Game Updates and Highlights
Is Ty Simpson benched?
As part of a coaching decision, Simpson was benched in the third quarter of the Rose Bowl game, ESPN reported.
Head coach Karen DeBoer decided to bench the stymied starter, giving the team its best chance to come back from a 24-0 deficit.
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Austin Mack, playing for the Crimson Tide, led the team to the game’s first points on their first drive. Simpson came off the field having completed 12 of 16 passes for 67 yards and no touchdowns, and also committed his only turnover of the game so far.
Is Ty Simpson injured?
While Simpson wasn’t just benched due to injury, it appears to be a factor. The quarterback briefly went to the injury tent and came out, with Mack taking his place on the field.
The injury, which has reportedly plagued his training for several weeks, became apparent after a hard hit resulted in a fumble in the second quarter. While Simpson tried to fix the problem, reporters noticed that after receiving treatment at halftime, he lacked his characteristic “zip” and passing speed during warm-ups, making faces visibly with each pass.
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What happened to Ty Simpson?
Simpson is reportedly nursing an elbow injury, which has been an ongoing issue late in the season. Simpson’s injury appeared to be more serious when he took a hard hit that resulted in a fumble in the second quarter, and Indiana later recovered and scored a touchdown.
Alabama’s signal-caller attempted to play through the injury but was clearly in pain, leading to DeBoer’s decision to replace him with Mack.
Who is Ty Simpson’s replacement?
Simpson’s primary backup is Austin Mack, who is currently playing.
Mack, a redshirt sophomore, replaced Simpson in the third quarter of the Rose Bowl’s CFP quarterfinal game against Indiana. True freshman Keelon Russell is also listed as a backup option on the depth chart.
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Alabama QB Depth Chart
|
Location |
player |
|
1 |
Ty Simpson |
|
2 |
Austin Mack |
|
3 |
Kieron Russell |