Reports: Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons eyeing SEC rival in portal

Field Level Media|published: Fri 2nd January, 21:41 2026

Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons (13) fist bumps a manager during an Ole Miss practice for the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025.

Austin Simmons, who began the season as Ole Miss' starting quarterback but lost the job after an injury, plans to enter the transfer portal with a no-contact tag, multiple reports said Friday.

Simmons is expected to land at SEC rival Missouri, according to On3 and ESPN reports.

Ole Miss is still alive for a national championship after beating Georgia; the No. 6 seed upset its third-seeded rivals 39-34 on Thursday in a quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl. Per the reports, Simmons plans to stay with the Rebels throughout their College Football Playoff run.

Simmons started the Rebels' season opener and threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in a 63-7 rout of Georgia State. The next week against Kentucky, he tossed two interceptions and injured his left ankle in a 30-23 victory.

Trinidad Chambliss started the next week against Arkansas, and the Rebels never looked back. The transfer from Division II Ferris State has amassed 3,660 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions while adding 520 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground this year. Chambliss finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.

As for Simmons, he has appeared in 17 games for Ole Miss across 2024-25 and thrown for 1,026 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. He also played baseball for the Rebels early in his college career.

The coach who recruited him to Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin, left after the regular season to take over at LSU.

Missouri lost starting quarterback Beau Pribula to the transfer portal and could be a landing spot for Simmons to become a starter again.

--Field Level Media