Todd McShay uses Ty Simpson as ‘truth serum’ for all college football QBs

Todd McShay admits he has an addiction for studying college quarterbacks. And this past Sunday, after evaluating Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza‘s tape in the Hoosiers’ comeback win at Penn State, the former ESPN analyst had one thought: “How does this stack up against the bar-setter Ty Simpson?”

It’s at this point, McShay fed his addiction and turned on Saturday’s tape from Alabama’s 20-9 win over rival LSU. And, despite a sub-par offensive performance overall, McShay was once again blown away by what he saw from Simpson, who he described as “the most NFL-ready quarterback in the country.”

“This quarterback class for 2026 has been largely disappointing. There are a bunch of talented guys that could come out that I think a lot of them are going to go back to school next year, and I’m glad they will because I think they’ll need it to be ready for the NFL,” McShay said on Monday’s episode of his The Todd McShay Show podcast with co-host Steve Muench. “Ty Simpson is the most NFL-ready quarterback in the country, and I stamp that. I’ll stand alone on that island. I will plant my flag at the top of that mountain. Ty Simpson is the standard at the quarterback position. No one is doing the things Ty Simpson is doing at quarterback – pre-snap, post-snap, ball placement, poise, decisiveness, mechanically. … He is a very high-end NFL Draft pick whether he comes out in 2026 or 2027.”

McShay backed up his bold claim about the Crimson Tide’s first-year starting QB by citing three specific first-half plays that best explained why Simpson’s tape “has become the truth serum for quarterbacks around the country.”

The first two plays came in a scoreless first quarter for Alabama as Simpson flashed an uncanny ability to navigate both pre-snap and post-snap before hitting his target with precision both times. The first play resulted in a quick 14-yard curl to sophomore Ryan Williams.

“Not a huge gain, … (but) I’m watching it like ‘This is NFL stuff,'” McShay said. “Pre-snap, post-snap, eyes negotiating safeties, drilling the ball (to the WR), decisive. It’s everything you look for when you’re looking for a NFL quarterback.”

But the most impressive play for both McShay and Muench was a 32-yard second-quarter strike to junior tight end Josh Cuevas that set up Alabama’s first touchdown of the game. On the play, McShay pointed out how Simpson was able to successfully trick LSU’s free safety — who was leaning left — to shift more to the middle of the field, thus leaving Cuevas in a one-on-one situation for the long completion.

“The execution on that throw, it’s one thing to make the read, (but) that’s a difficult throw to make, and it was perfect,” Muench said. “He’s not a guy that’s going to sit back and dink and dunk down the field. If you give him an opportunity to strike, he will go. He’ll take a shot on you.”

And, if McShay’s gushing is any indication, it’s abundantly clear who he believes NFL teams shouldn’t hesitate to take a shot on whenever he enters the NFL — Simpson.

“In 25 years of scouting and evaluating quarterbacks and every other position, I have literally never seen a first-year starting quarterback in college football play the game at this high of a level — never,” McShay concluded.