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Ty Simpson on rematch with Vanderbilt after 2024 upset: 'We're not gonna make that mistake again'

Danby: Daniel Hager11 hours agoDanielHagerOn3
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© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Alabama‘s 2024 season was completely turned on its head last season after its 40-35 upset loss at Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide, which headed to Nashville ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll following a massive 41-34 win over No. 2 Georgia, went just 5-3 in its final eight games and lost in the ReliaQuest Bowl to Michigan.

Ahead of this year’s rematch, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson made a strong declaration about the game on Tuesday.

“I wasn’t playing but I was on the team and so I felt how it was last year,” Simpson said. “The mentality in the locker room this week is ‘we remember what happened last year and what are we going to do about it?’ Even though it’s not about last year, it’s about us, we’re not gonna make the same mistake again. You know what I mean?

“They’re not the same team as last year and neither are we. They’re better and we’re better in some ways. This is a top-25 matchup with College GameDay coming here. This is a really, really good Vanderbilt team and it could be one of the biggest games of the year. We need to come in with the mentality like we’ve had in the last couple of games with a chip on our shoulder. Like it’s Alabama vs. The World.”

Massive implications on line this weekend in Tuscaloosa

Things are a bit different this season, as Alabama opened its season with a 31-17 loss at Florida State but has bounced back with blowout wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Wisconsin and a 24-21 victory over No. 5 Georgia Saturday night, which ended the Bulldogs’ 33-game home winning streak.

Meanwhile, the success that head coach Clark Lea is leading Vanderbilt to is unprecedented. This weekend will mark the first College GameDay show that involves the Commodores since Oct. 4, 2008 (vs. Auburn). With a second consecutive win over the Tide, Vanderbilt would start the season 6-0 for the first time since 1928.

Long story short, a lot is on the line this weekend in Tuscaloosa. Vanderbilt could seriously cement itself as a contender in the SEC, while the Tide could firmly re-plant themselves back in the College Football Playoff picture.

Kick-off between No. 10 Alabama and No. 16 Vanderbilt this weekend is scheduled for 3:30 PM ET. The game can be seen on ABC.