‘We’re The Most Resilient Team in the Country’: Ty Simpson Backs Alabama’s Playoff Résumé, Claims Entire SEC Would Qualify Under His System

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson made the case for the Crimson Tide’s playoff credentials Saturday night with no equivocation. Speaking after Alabama’s 27-20 victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl, the redshirt junior didn’t just defend his team’s postseason resume.

He questioned why anyone would doubt it in the first place. Simpson, who threw for three touchdowns to Isaiah Horton including the game-winner on fourth down with less than four minutes left, answered a straightforward question about Alabama’s playoff case with an equally straightforward challenge.

“The question is, why aren’t we?” Simpson said in a video that was posted on X by Trevor Denton. “You know what I mean? Like, one of the gauntlets of a schedule that we went through. People don’t play in an SEC and then they’ll play this schedule like we do. You know, we’re the most resilient team in the country.”

Ty Simpson when asked why Alabama is a Playoff team:

“The question is, why aren’t we?… We’re the most resilient team in the country.”

He said if it were up to him, every SEC team would be in:

“Basically, every SEC game is a playoff game.” pic.twitter.com/ucRfEMoK0Z

— Trevor Denton (@trevordenton37) November 30, 2025

Simpson didn’t stop there, instead indicating the entire Southeastern Conference warrants playoff representation based on the week-to-week demands of playing in the league. He said if he was in charge of the playoff selection process, every team in the SEC would make the playoffs.

“If I had my thing, I think every SEC team would be in the playoffs, because basically every SEC game is a playoff,” Simpson said.

The win secured Alabama’s place in next Saturday’s SEC Championship Game against fourth-ranked Georgia in Atlanta. Simpson’s performance against Auburn came in his first Iron Bowl start, with the quarterback completing 19 of 35 passes for 122 yards.

That marked his lowest yardage total of the season, but his three scoring connections with Horton proved decisive in keeping Alabama’s playoff hopes alive. The Crimson Tide improved to 10-2 overall and 7-1 in SEC play.

Simpson’s Confidence Comes from Alabama Having Navigated the Toughest Schedule Among Playoff Contenders This Season

Alabama knew coming into the season it had to play five conference games against ranked opponents; no other playoff hopeful had to endure that.

The Tide took down Georgia 24-21 on the road earlier in the season and handled other quality SEC matchups along the way. Their lone conference defeat came against Oklahoma, who also finds themselves in playoff contention heading into championship weekend.

Through 11 games, Simpson has thrown for 2,934 yards with 22 touchdowns against four interceptions, numbers that rank him second in the SEC for passing yards per game at 266.7.

The rematch against Georgia provides Alabama an opportunity to fortify their playoff case. The Bulldogs are 7-1 against Alabama during Kirby Smart’s tenure, but the Crimson Tide have won the last two SEC Championship Game meetings between these two programs.

A victory likely would lock up the Crimson Tide’s playoff berth, while a loss would leave them at 10-3 and competing with other at-large candidates for one of the remaining spots.

Whether playoff selectors agree with his assessment about SEC superiority remains an open question, but with one game left before Selection Sunday, Alabama controls its path forward.