Ty Simpson has his shot, and Florida State is the first to find out what he’s really made of. Head coach Mike Norvell didn’t dodge the challenge at his post-practice media session on August 16, admitting that game-planning for Alabama’s new starting quarterback is far from simple. With limited college tape to scout, the Seminoles have to dig deeper if they want to slow down Simpson in their season opener on August 30.
How Will Mike Norvell Prepare Florida State for Ty Simpson in the Season Opener?
Norvell, speaking on Friday, shared how he approaches the unknowns when facing a quarterback who hasn’t started much before. Instead of guessing, he said he and his staff pore over every snippet of film, including Simpson’s high school days: “Yeah, I mean he’s played a little bit. You always take a look at any previous experience in a field, and you know, as a high school quarterback, you’ll take a glimpse of that, but I mean, he’s been in their program for a good while,” Norvell explained.
Norvell stressed the importance of preparing for a player who has spent time developing inside Alabama’s system. He also mentioned his unique perspective on Simpson’s background: during Norvell’s time at Memphis, he connected with Simpson’s family because Simpson’s dad, Jason Simpson, coached at UT Martin. That football pedigree, Norvell said, is something he respects.
“You know he’s developed, I mean, you got a lot of respect for Ty. He’s you when I was at Memphis. Obviously, his dad was a coach up at UT Martin, a great coach. He’s a football family. I mean, he’s going to be a really good football player, and you know, he’s kind of waiting for his time and opportunity,” he said.
Alabama made it official on August 11: Simpson is their starting quarterback for the 2024-25 campaign. Over three years, Simpson has played in 16 games, thrown 50 times for 381 yards, and added 130 yards and three scores on the ground. No touchdown passes yet, but Norvell knows that game tape only tells part of the story for a player with Simpson’s background.
NEW: Ty Simpson has been named Alabama’s starting quarterback, @PeteNakos_ reports🐘https://t.co/k18q0MMhUU pic.twitter.com/6pm7ohWJvD
— On3 (@On3sports) August 11, 2025
Norvell wrapped up his thoughts by saying he believes Alabama knows exactly what it has in Simpson. “And so, you know, I’ve got a good sense of, you know, how talented he was coming out and, you know, I know they’re really pleased with the way that he’s developed,” he said.
Vegas isn’t shy about the stakes: Alabama enters as 13.5-point favorites. The Crimson Tide finished with nine wins and four losses last season, their first year with head coach Kalen DeBoer. Meanwhile, Florida State went just two and ten in 2024-25, making this showdown at Doak Campbell Stadium a true measuring stick for both teams.
Simpson arrived in Tuscaloosa as a five-star recruit out of Westview High School in Tennessee, carrying all the expectations that come with being the son of UT Martin’s head coach. Now, everyone will see what happens when he takes center stage. The season opener kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
