Austin Simmons, the former quarterback for Ole Miss, has officially transferred to the University of Missouri, marking a significant change in his collegiate football career. This move comes after Simmons entered the transfer portal with a do-not-contact tag, a decision that hinted at Missouri being his preferred destination from the start, according to reports.
Despite the transition, Simmons is expected to fulfill his commitment to Ole Miss for the remainder of the College Football Playoff, where the Rebels have a critical matchup against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal. A victory in that game would position Ole Miss for a shot at the national title on January 19.
Simmons began the season as the starting quarterback for the Rebels but encountered a setback with an ankle injury during a victorious encounter against Kentucky in Week 2. Following his injury, Trinidad Chambliss confidently took over as the Rebels’ signal-caller and continued to secure his position, finishing eighth in the Heisman voting and leading Ole Miss to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
In his 2025 season, Simmons played in eight games, completing 45 of 75 passes for 744 yards, totaling four touchdowns and five interceptions. His most notable performance came during the opening game of the season against Georgia State, where he threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns. However, his performance was hampered by four interceptions across the rest of his games, especially after his injury.
Before transferring, Simmons had served as a backup to Jaxson Dart in the previous season while Chambliss was still playing at the Division II level. His contributions were felt during critical moments, including a solid outing where he completed five of six passes for 64 yards against Georgia.
Missouri, seeking to solidify its quarterback position following the announcement that their 2025 starter, Beau Pribula, would also be transferring, appears to benefit from Simmons’ arrival. Pribula experienced difficulties during SEC play, compounded by an ankle injury that limited his effectiveness late in the season. The team’s backup, true freshman Matt Zollers, struggled in Pribula’s absence and during the Gator Bowl against Virginia, where he managed only 101 yards with an interception.
As Simmons embarks on this new chapter at Missouri, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how he adjusts to a new environment and competition. His journey signifies hope and the constant evolution of players within collegiate athletics as they strive for success on their respective teams.