Ty Simpson Embraces Iron Bowl Pressure: ‘It’s All On Us’

No. 10 Alabama will travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium for its final game of the regular season. Rivalry week is like no other in college football. Many teams are looking to upset their rivals, others are playing for a playoff spot, while still others are trying to achieve a winning season.

For the Crimson Tide, the trip to Jordan-Hare is a do-or-die situation. Alabama currently boasts a 9-2 record; a win at Auburn would secure their spot in the Southeastern Conference championship and boost their playoff chances.

Quarterback Ty Simpson has never played in Jordan-Hare, but he knows firsthand the stakes of the trip and understands that Alabama will have to bring its A-game to be successful.

During media availability on Tuesday, Simpson spoke about the stakes of the game, contrasting it with simply going out and playing football. "We look back, and we've been here before, hostile environments like Georgia and South Carolina. We've been through a tough time in our season and have faced different challenges, but it goes back to how our team is, how resilient we are, and how we all play for one another. That's what it's going to be this weekend–let's go get it," Simpson said.

Jordan-Hare is a very hostile environment, especially when Alabama comes to town. Throughout the rivalry's history, anytime the Crimson Tide makes the trip, the Tigers pull out all the stops to attempt to thwart them. Despite the "voodoo" surrounding Jordan-Hare, Alabama will be in control of its own destiny at this point.

"It's all on us; it's all about us. If we go do our job, then everything else will take care of itself. The biggest thing is we've got to go and do our job," Simpson said when asked about how Alabama is in control of its own destiny.

The destiny is simple: beat Auburn, and Alabama is in the SEC championship with a high chance of making the playoffs. This game presents an extraordinary opportunity, especially given the chance to secure a spot against a rival. "Growing up, who wouldn't want to play in the best rivalry in college football, the Iron Bowl, Alabama against Auburn? All the memories that teams have had against each other, the bad blood–it's just great. Growing up in the South, watching SEC football, this is what you dream of, and what a great opportunity I have to be the starting quarterback on one of the teams," Simpson said.

Alabama and Auburn will face off for the 90th time in history on Saturday. As always, the matchup between the two will be another one for the books and add another level of excitement to rivalry week.