Alabama vs. Oklahoma: key turnover
In recent weeks, opposing defenses have repeatedly stripped the ball from Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson on sacks, turning his pocket presence into a growing concern for the Crimson Tide.
Until the matchup with Oklahoma, those strip-sacks had not directly resulted in a loss, but this time a critical fumble helped swing a tight contest that ended 23-21 in favor of the Sooners.
Late in the third quarter, Oklahoma defensive lineman Taylor Wein knocked the ball loose from Simpson, and the turnover set up kicker Tate Sandell for a second-half field goal that ultimately provided the decisive margin.
Fumble trend for Ty Simpson
The play against Oklahoma continued an alarming pattern, marking the fifth straight game in which Simpson has lost the ball on a sack.
This streak began with a game at Missouri in October and has persisted, highlighting a recurring issue with ball security under pressure in the pocket.
Kalen DeBoer’s assessment
"With the pressure they brought, he's got to get rid of it and be OK with throwing it away. You can only hold on so long, and I feel like with the blitz they had, you're going to get overwhelmed and outnumbered," UA coach Kalen DeBoer said of Simpson.
"You've just got to understand the situation. I know it's third down and he wants to stay on the field, but you've just got to understand the defense is playing good, too, and you've got to live with punting once in a while."
DeBoer emphasized situational awareness, stressing that protecting the ball and accepting a punt can be the smarter choice when outnumbered by a heavy blitz.
Ty Simpson’s response
"Just get the ball out," he said. "Throw it away."
Simpson did not dispute his coach’s message, instead summing up the lesson in a few words focused on quicker decisions and safer throws under pressure.
Author’s summary
Kalen DeBoer highlighted that Ty Simpson’s recurring strip-sacks stem from holding the ball too long under heavy pressure and stressed that timely throwaways, even on third down, are vital to avoiding game-changing turnovers.