Forget the hype — the best quarterback taking the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night will be wearing crimson, not orange. Despite talk that Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar is the SEC’s top quarterback, the numbers — and the eye test — say otherwise. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is the real deal.
Some have labeled the upcoming Alabama–Tennessee clash as a “quarterback battle.” If that’s true, then it’s one that tilts heavily in favor of the Crimson Tide. Matt Melton of Roll Tide Wire recently called Aguilar the SEC’s “leading passer,” which is technically correct — but only by the slimmest of margins. Aguilar has 1,680 passing yards, while Simpson sits right behind him with 1,678. That’s a mere two-yard difference separating the two quarterbacks.
When it comes to efficiency, though, Simpson dominates. Aguilar averages 9.2 yards per attempt; Simpson averages 8.9. But beyond that, Simpson’s completion rate of 70.9% ranks third in the SEC, while Aguilar’s 64.8% puts him down at ninth. More tellingly, Simpson leads the entire conference in passer rating (172.36) — a full ten points higher than Aguilar’s 162.67.
And then there’s the most important stat of all: touchdowns versus turnovers. Simpson has been razor-sharp this season, tossing 16 touchdowns with just one interception. Aguilar, meanwhile, has 14 touchdowns and five interceptions — a costly difference that has hurt Tennessee in big moments.
Strength of schedule also favors Simpson. Alabama’s opponents have been tougher defensively, yet he’s still produced at a higher level than Aguilar. The Crimson Tide quarterback has been pressured more often, but his composure under fire continues to separate him from his SEC rivals.
Even CBS Sports recently crowned Simpson as the No. 1 quarterback in college football. Analyst David Cobb praised his “diabolically clutch” performance in Alabama’s dramatic 27-24 win over Missouri, where Simpson engineered a flawless fourth-quarter drive that sealed victory.
The version of Simpson who stumbled against Florida State early in the season has since evolved into a poised, confident leader. If Tennessee can’t pressure him consistently Saturday night, its secondary could be in for a long evening.
Simply put: Ty Simpson isn’t just the best quarterback in this matchup — he might be the best in the entire SEC.
