‘Everybody’s mad’: Alabama players react to loss to Oklahoma
Ty Simpson, often a man of many words, said he didn’t have much to say.
“Just frustrating,” Simpson said. “Going to move on.”
Simpson spoke minutes after he and No. 4 Alabama fell in a 23-21 loss to No. 11 Oklahoma on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It marks the first SEC loss of the year for the Crimson Tide (8-2, 6-1 SEC). It’s also the first home loss for Alabama since 2023 when the Crimson Tide fell to Texas.
“Everybody’s mad,” Simpson said. “There’s a handful of plays we wish we would have had back. The outcome would have been different. These guys are resilient. These guys fight their tails off every single day. We’re just going to stay together. We’ve still got two more games. We control our own destiny. That’s what we need to do.”
The Crimson Tide had more yards (406-212), more first downs (23-12), more touchdowns (3-2) and more time of possession than Oklahoma. But Alabama lost in the most important stat, the score, because of its gaffes in another stat: turnovers.
Alabama turned the ball over three times. Meanwhile, the defense couldn’t get a takeaway. Heading into the game, the Crimson Tide led the SEC in fewest turnovers but most takeaways per game.
“I feel like we still dominated the game,” Alabama linebacker and captain Deontae Lawson said. “It was just a couple plays that hurt. That will lose you the game. We’ll look at it and we’ll get better from it.”
Captain Tim Keenan III said the locker room was “silent” but with a focus on regrouping.
“It’s just like Week 1,” Keenan said. “We’re back hated by everybody and everything. We’re in a familiar spot. We’ve just got to go work and get better.”
Lawson said guys still were saying they have each other’s backs in the locker room.
“I don’t feel as anyone on our team is going to split from each other or anything like that,” Lawson said. “We’re just going to continue to fight. We know we all in this together.”
The players struck a tone of frustration but eagerness to get back and fix it. Alabama can still make the College Football Playoff and the SEC Championship Game.
Simpson said he’s confident Alabama will respond to the loss to Oklahoma.
“That’s all I’m going to say,” Simpson said. “Got to win out now.”
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Other than the Lombardi Trophy , players and coaches in the NFL also have the motivation to win individual awards. Individual awards have the potential to bid a player well, as they can have an effect on current and future contract negotiations. They also cement a players name in the history book next to some of the game’s greatest players. In 2025, the Indianapolis Colts have a handful of players and a coach who could possibly earn these awards at the end of the season.
There are five different awards that Colts players and staff can be up for. Those awards include the NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year. It is improbable that one team can win each of these awards in one season. Although it’s improbable, it’s not impossible. It can be done, and there are stats to prove it. Here are the possible Indianapolis Colts award winners in 2025.
NFL MVP – Jonathan Taylor
The NFL MVP is an award dominated by the quarterback. Despite the award being considered quarterback only, running back Jonathan Taylor has made his case for winning the award. Taylor has produced “video game-like” numbers so far this season. Taylor is currently the Triple Crown leader when it comes to NFL rushing stats. Regardless of the season only being halfway over, Taylor has 143 carries for 850 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Another key factor is that those are just Taylor’s rushing stats. If you were to add his receiving stats into the mix, it becomes more compelling. In that case, Taylor also tacks on 206 yards and 2 touchdowns. In total, that leads to Taylor having 1,056 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns. Overall, the MVP hasn’t been won by a running back since 2012 (Adrian Peterson), but with these numbers, Taylor makes a strong case.
Offensive Player of the Year – Daniel Jones
It is no secret that Daniel Jones is having a resurgence in his career. In his eighth season, Jones is putting up top quarterback-like numbers. Jones’ total offensive yards rank at the top of the league with 2,148 total yards, 17 total touchdowns, and a 79.2 QBR (which ranks second in the league). He has already almost surpassed his 2022 season, which statistically was his best season, where he had 22 total touchdowns.
Another factor in putting Jones in this category is how he is running this offense. The Colts’ offense is ranked first in points, yards, and touchdowns per game. They also rank first in points and yards per play. Daniel Jones is taking over the Colts offense and succeeding at a historical rate, leading his case for the Offensive Player of the Year award.
Offensive Rookie of the Year – Tyler Warren
Picking Tyler Warren with the fourteenth overall pick in the 2025 draft was exactly what the doctor ordered in Indianapolis. The rookie sensation out of Penn State University is showing everyone what the hype around him was all about. Putting stats aside, Warren is proving his versatility in the Colts’ offense. Warren is showing that he can line up as a tight end, a fullback, a receiver, and even at quarterback. As far as totals go, Warren has 37 receptions (50 targets), 498 yards, and four touchdowns. With these types of numbers at hand, Warren ranks toward the top of all rookies and among the top tight ends in 2025.
Comeback Player of the Year Award – Daniel Jones
As stated earlier, Jones is having a rejuvenated season in 2025. Although this award is normally for players coming back from injury, Jones has a strong case for this as well. The statistical case for Jones is argued for the Offensive Player of the Year award, but this award stretches beyond the stats. With the pressure of playing under the New York media, Jones never really got the recognition that he deserved while he was with the Giants.
Coach of the Year Award – Shane Steichen
Coming into the year, Steichen was listed as being the top coach on the hot seat. Now in week nine, that seat is ice cold. Steichen is proving doubters wrong with his play-calling and leadership. This year’s Colts team is firing on all cylinders offensively. Why is that important? Well, it just so happens that Steichen is the painter behind the master piece. Steichen is leading the Colts to their best start since 2009 with a record of 7-1. This Colts team has done a complete turnaround culture-wise from the last two seasons. It seems that players are more bought into the plan Steichen has set, and are being held accountable for their actions. It is rare to see a coach go from zero to hero in a matter of months. But just like this entire Colts team, Steichen is defying the odds.
Finally, it is to be known that it will be difficult for all these scenarios to become true, but not impossible. The Indianapolis Colts have a serious shot at bringing home all of these awards in 2025. Their continued success will play a major role in getting these awards. If the Colts can continue this success, it will be hard to argue against these guys winning these awards. As stated in the opening, the Lombardi Trophy is the ultimate award, but it’s satisfying to see the Colts organization get the recognition they deserve in 2025.
