Austin Simmons is a bit of a glitch in the college football matrix. You've probably heard the broad strokes: the kid with the 5.34 GPA who reclassified two full years early just to get a head start on the SEC. It’s the kind of story that sounds like a fever dream. But the reality of Austin Simmons Ole Miss career turned out to be much more of a roller coaster than anyone in Oxford predicted when he flipped from Florida.
Imagine being 17 and standing in the Manning Center, looking at guys who are basically grown men while you’re technically supposed to be a high school junior. That was Simmons in 2023. Fast forward to early 2026, and the landscape has shifted completely. He isn't the "quarterback of the future" for the Rebels anymore. He’s a graduate transfer (at 20 years old!) headed to Missouri.
✨ Don't miss: Bucks vs Miami Heat: What Really Happened Behind Those Playoff Upsets
The Ankle Injury That Changed Everything
The 2025 season was supposed to be the coronation. Jaxson Dart was gone to the NFL, and Lane Kiffin handed the keys to the left-handed flamethrower from Miami. Honestly, the start was electric. Simmons lit up Georgia State for 341 yards and three touchdowns. He looked like the real deal—until he didn't.
Football is cruel. In Week 2 against Kentucky, Simmons messed up his ankle. It didn't look like a season-ender at first, but it was lingering enough to open the door for Trinidad Chambliss. And boy, did Chambliss kick that door down.
While Simmons was rehabbing, Chambliss was busy finishing eighth in the Heisman voting and leading Ole Miss to a CFP quarterfinal upset over Georgia. You can’t bench a guy who’s playing like a top-10 pick. Simmons found himself in the toughest spot an athlete can be in: healthy enough to play, but stuck behind a legend in the making.
By the Numbers: The Simmons Impact
Even with the injury, the stats tell a story of "what if."
- 1,026 career passing yards at Ole Miss.
- 6 touchdowns to 5 interceptions.
- 19 years old when he received his bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies.
- 3.21 ERA on the mound for the Diamond Rebels.
That last one is important. People forget he wasn't just a football player. He was a legitimate weapon for Mike Bianco's baseball squad. A 6-foot-4 lefty who can touch the mid-90s is a rare breed.
Why the Transfer to Missouri Makes Sense
When Simmons entered the transfer portal on January 2, 2026, he did it with a "no-contact" tag. Basically, he already knew where he was going. He signed with Missouri just days later.
Mizzou is a perfect fit, mostly because Eli Drinkwitz needed a passer. They’re losing Beau Pribula, and Simmons brings a verticality to their offense that they’ve been missing. Plus, there’s a weird layer of revenge here—Simmons is scheduled to return to Oxford on October 17, 2026, as a Tiger. Can you imagine the atmosphere in Vaught-Hemingway for that one?
A Maturity Most People Miss
The most impressive part of the Austin Simmons Ole Miss era wasn't a throw. It was how he handled getting benched.
🔗 Read more: Lo que revelan las estadísticas de RCD Espanyol contra Barça B: Rivalidad más allá del primer equipo
Most kids with his talent would have hit the portal the second they lost the QB1 spot. Simmons didn't. He stayed. He stood on the sidelines during the College Football Playoff, headset on, helping Chambliss break down film. He didn't complain to the media. He didn't have his dad post cryptic tweets. He just worked.
"He was with us in every meeting, every practice, breaking down film... he accepted the situation with grace," Trinidad Chambliss told reporters after the Sugar Bowl.
What's Next for the Dual-Sport Star?
There’s a massive question mark regarding his baseball career. Missouri has a solid program, but will Simmons keep pitching? Word on the street is he’s focusing primarily on football to solidify his NFL draft stock for 2027 or 2028.
He’s still incredibly young. He’ll be a graduate student at Missouri while most of his original high school classmates are barely finishing their sophomore years of college. That head start is his greatest asset.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Mizzou Spring Game: This will be the first time we see Simmons in a non-Kiffin offense. Look for how he handles the RPO-heavy schemes Drinkwitz favors.
- Monitor the MLB Draft Buzz: If he decides to pick up a baseball again this spring, scouts will be watching. His left-handedness makes him a permanent prospect.
- Track the 2026 Schedule: Circle October 17. The "Austin Simmons Revenge Game" is going to be the biggest storyline in the SEC that week.
The Austin Simmons story at Ole Miss didn't have the "happily ever after" Rebels fans wanted, but it proved he has the mental toughness to survive the SEC. Now, he just needs a full season of health to show the world what that left arm can actually do.