Indiana Defensive coordinator Bryant Haynes echoes former comments alabama quarterback ty simpson and responded with his own comments about the teams’ matchup in the Rose Bowl last season.
Haines used his social media accounts to tell Simpson that he did not think the Hoosiers’ defense was very complex in the 38–3 loss. simpson speaking on a podcast Hosted by former Ohio State safety and ex-Tide teammate caleb downs.
Indiana handed Alabama the most lopsided bowl loss in program history, while limiting the Crimson Tide to their lowest scoring total in a bowl game since the 1960 Bluebonnet Bowl against Texas ended in a 3–3 tie. Simpson was 12 of 16 for 67 yards and ran three times for 17 yards before leaving with a broken rib. Alabama’s offense rushed for 193 yards and punted only 23 yards.
As Simpson and Downs wait to find out where they will begin their NFL careers, Simpson took some time to explain what he thought happened in Pasadena, California.
He said, “From my perspective, I was like, they don’t do much.” “They do that every time. So when I got the ball, I knew exactly what was going to happen. They didn’t mess up, brother. They were exactly where they were supposed to be. They were very well coached.
“It was a lot different than the SEC. In the SEC, they’ll play dudes, they’ll do these unorthodox coverages. It’s kind of like that. That game was crazy to me. Obviously, I was hurt. So it was a weird thing. I knew what they were going to do. We couldn’t really run the ball, couldn’t really throw. It was just crazy to me how it happened.”
Haynes then explained how it happened.
“Adorable,” Haynes Said in his social media post. “We, too, saw every moment of everything they were doing… It’s just that we took advantage of those signals. And weren’t frozen or crushed by them.”
Dear. We saw everything they were doing, too, on every single snap… it’s just that we took advantage of those signals. And was not crushed to death by them. pic.twitter.com/L3zjXB3c3I
– Bryant Haines (@Coach_BHaines) 18 April 2026
Alabama fans pressed Haynes against Broyles Award winner Haynes as the nation’s top assistant. He wasn’t impressed by what Tide fans said.
“That’s all it took to break your entire fan base?” Haynes wrote. “Wow… maybe I should have just said ‘boo’. No apology, no compliment. Grow up guys. Her opinion was mean and I told the painful truth. Come back better.”
The Hoosiers defeated Oregon in the next round of the College Football Playoff and then topped Miami in the Hurricanes’ home stadium to capture their first national championship. quarterback Fernando MendozaThe Heisman Trophy winner is expected to be the first pick in Thursday night’s NFL Draft.
A school-record nine Hoosiers, including receivers Omar Cooper Jr.Participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in February. Cooper and Downs are widely expected to be selected in the first round.
Some analysts project Simpson as the No. 2 quarterback in this year’s class.
Indiana is preparing for its annual spring game Thursday night and will open the season on Sept. 5 by hosting North Texas. Alabama opens its season at home on September 5 against East Carolina.
