Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines calls out Ty Simpson for remarks, tells Alabama fans to 'grow up'

After some pushback on social media for the comment, Haines doubled down.

"That's all it took to break your entire fanbase?" He wrote. "Wow.. maybe I should've just said "Boo". No apologies, no compliments. Grow up folks. He had a bad take and I said the painful truth. Bounce back better. #GoIU #NoCompliments"

While some may question the point of the social media exchange, Haines has certainly earned the right to talk. The Broyles Award winner's unit limited Alabama to 193 total yards, including 23 yards rushing and a 3-for-11 effort on third down in the CFP quarterfinal win. Simpson completed 12 of 16 passes for 67 yards while rushing three times for 17 yards before he exited the game with a cracked rib.

Alabama's 35-point loss was the program's worst since the turn of the century, which includes the Crimson Tide's mutilation at the hands of Clemson in the national championship game to end the 2018 season.

It also marked Alabama's most lopsided loss in a bowl game and lowest point total in a postseason matchup since Bear Bryant's team ended the 1960 Bluebonnet Bowl in a 3-3 tie with Texas.

Indiana finished No. 2 in the country in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and eighth in opponents' third down conversion rate (30.1%). Four Hoosiers were honored with first-team All-Big Ten accolades -- Tyrique Tucker, Aiden Fisher, Louis Moore and D'Angelo Ponds.

In December, Haines signed a multi-year extension that makes him one of the highest-paid coordinators in college football.

On paper, Indiana's defense looks to be stout again in 2026. Despite losing a couple of starters to eligibility and the NFL Draft, the Hoosiers landed a top-10 transfer haul featuring former Kansas State edge Tobi Osunsanmi and Penn State cornerback A.J. Harris.