After their Week 1 loss to Florida State, many college football experts and fans around the country had completely given up on Alabama and Kalen DeBoer. Since their loss, the Crimson Tide have rattled off three straight wins, including a massive road win against No. 5 ranked Georgia.
As Roll TideWire noted, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt was extremely impressed with Alabama’s 24-21 win over Georgia in Athens on Saturday night.
Klatt said Nick Saban’s successor Kalen DeBoer has Alabama looking “drastically different” from the team that opened the season with a 31-17 loss to Florida State.
On the latest edition of his Joel Klatt Show podcast, the longtime Fox college football voice moved Alabama up to No. 8 in his weekly rankings, crediting both quarterback Ty Simpson and the Tide’s execution on the road:
“I know they lost to Florida State earlier, but all of us that watched that game on Saturday night know that that team looks drastically different. Drastically different,” Klatt said. “The effort was different. The physicality was different. The game plan was different. I loved all of it. Ty Simpson continues to be elite at quarterback.”
Klatt believes they can be a true contender as the season goes on:
“Their level of execution was fantastic. Granted, they had to hang on in the end and didn’t really run it that great, but it’s there. The top-end is there. If they play disciplined and they protect Ty Simpson, that is going to be a very difficult team to beat.”
The Evolution of Ty Simpson
After Jalen Milroe left for the NFL Draft this offseason, there were a lot of questions surrounding Ty Simpson as he was set to take over as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback.
As a highly-touted five-star recruit, Simpson was expected to be the future starter, but he followed the path of Mac Jones before him, waiting his turn. He spent his first three years backing up Bryce Young in 2022 and Jalen Milroe in 2023 and 2024. Now, after patiently waiting his turn, Simpson has made the most of his opportunity.
Through his first four games, Simpson has thrown for 1,138 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception.
Simpson played one of his best games yet against Georgia, completing 24 of his 38 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. He led Alabama to back-to-back scoring drives on his first two series, giving the Tide an early 14-0 lead. The junior’s poise and leadership helped Alabama navigate a hostile environment in Athens and come out with a massive road win.
Simpson is quickly emerging as one of the best quarterbacks in the entire country and has even put his name in Heisman Trophy conversations.
What’s Next for the Tide
This victory carries more weight than just another notch in the win column. Since arriving in Tuscaloosa, Kalen DeBoer has faced heavy criticism, with many questioning whether he could uphold the standard set by Nick Saban.
His debut season left many doubting if Alabama had taken a step back, especially after the opening loss to Florida State. Saturday’s upset in Athens changes that conversation. Beating Georgia on the road wasn’t just a quality win, it was a statement.
For DeBoer, it was the kind of breakthrough performance that silences critics, validates his approach, and proves he’s capable of leading the Crimson Tide into a new era of success.
With the win, Alabama climbed to No. 10 in the AP Poll and No. 11 in the Coaches Poll.
They have a very tough road ahead of them though. The Crimson Tide will face five ranked opponents in their next six games. The Tide will look to keep their momentum going this weekend at home against unbeaten No. 16 Vanderbilt.