Ty Simpson named Maxwell Award semifinalist—where does he rank in the Heisman odds?
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Less than three months after being named the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide, Ty Simpson has become a household name not just for Alabama fans but for college football fans across the country.
This week, Simpson was named one of 13 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, which recognizes the best overall college football player each season.
Simpson is hoping to become the sixth Alabama player to win the award, all of them coming since 2013. The list includes:
- AJ McCarron
- Derrick Henry
- Tua Tagovailoa
- DeVonta Smith
- Bryce Young
Three of the previous five winners for Alabama also won the Heisman. However, the last two winners of the Maxwell Award—Ashton Jeanty and Michael Penix Jr.—finished second in Heisman voting.
2025 Heisman Trophy odds
The Heisman trust does not vote on semifinalists but Simpson is certainly in the mix right now.
To no surprise, the four frontrunners based on several oddsmakers are the quarterbacks from the top four teams in the country. Right now, the list includes (along with their odds from BetMGM):
- Julian Sayin, No. 1 Ohio State (+175)
- Fernando Mendoza, No. 2 Indiana (+175)
- Ty Simpson, No. 4 Alabama (+550)
- Marcel Reed, No. 3 Texas A&M (+750)
Simpson actually dropped on the betting boards after the win over LSU which saw his streak of at least 2 touchdown passes in every game end after 8 games.
Among those four players, Simpson ranks first in TD-interception ratio, second in passing yards, third in completion percentage + passer rating and fourth in total touchdowns.
Simpson will have a chance to turn some heads this weekend against a stout Oklahoma defense along with an Iron Bowl and a potential SEC Championship Game.
Unfortunately for Tide fans, it seems the favorite for the Heisman Trophy could end up being the winner of the Big Ten Championship Game which will likely feature Ohio State and Indiana.
Who do you think wins the 2025 Heisman Trophy? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
