As the Missouri Tigers gear up for the 2026 college football season, a new face will be leading the offense as Austin Simmons has been named the starting quarterback. Simmons will make his debut in this role during the Tigers’ opening game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, scheduled for Thursday, September 3, at 7 p.m. on Faurot Field in Columbia.
Simmons, a left-handed quarterback, joined the Tigers after transferring from Ole Miss, where he was initially expected to be the starting quarterback for the 2025 season. However, an ankle injury he sustained during a game against Kentucky limited his playing time and allowed Trinidad Chambliss to step up as the Rebels' starting quarterback. Chambliss went on to have a standout season, leading Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
During his time at Ole Miss, Simmons made two starts over three seasons and participated in a total of 17 games. He completed 59.8% of his passes, throwing for 1,026 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. In his two career starts against Georgia State and Kentucky, he recorded a completion rate of 60%, averaging 288 yards per game with three touchdown passes and four interceptions. Additionally, he has rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown across 25 attempts.
Despite entering his fourth year of college football, Simmons is only 20 years old, having reclassified from the Class of 2025 to join the Rebels in 2023. He hails from Moore Haven, Florida, and played high school football at Pahokee High IB World School. Simmons also holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi.
Looking ahead, Simmons has two seasons of eligibility remaining, which includes the upcoming 2026 campaign. He redshirted during his freshman year, allowing him the opportunity to potentially remain at Mizzou through 2027 if he chooses to continue his college career.
In terms of recruiting, Simmons was highly regarded, ranked as the No. 77 prospect in the Class of 2025 by ESPN before he reclassified. As a 2023 recruit, he was considered the No. 292 player nationally and the No. 19 quarterback according to 247Sports’ national composite rankings, earning him a four-star designation. His recruitment included a notable flip from a commitment to Florida to Ole Miss.
Interestingly, Simmons is not only a football player; he also played baseball during his time at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound athlete made 13 relief appearances for the Ole Miss baseball team in the 2024 season, finishing with a 2-0 record and a 3.21 ERA over 14 innings.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz cited Simmons’ experience and ability to manage critical game situations as key factors in his selection as the starting quarterback. "I think Austin has the game experience. He was better in managing the team in two-minute drills and end-of-game situations, which I think has been a real positive," Drinkwitz remarked in April. This decision aims to help Simmons build rapport with the Tigers’ receiving corps and establish himself as a leader on the field.
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