Missouri's football program has announced Austin Simmons as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season. Simmons, who transferred from Ole Miss after the 2025 season, emerged as the top choice over Nick Evers and sophomore Matt Zollers during spring practice.
Simmons' journey to this role has been anything but straightforward. He started the 2025 season leading the Ole Miss Rebels before an ankle injury sidelined him.
His absence paved the way for Trinidad Chambliss, who guided Ole Miss to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Over two seasons at Ole Miss, Simmons threw for 1,026 yards, registering six touchdowns against five interceptions.
With a redshirt year in 2023, Simmons still has two years of eligibility to make his mark at Missouri.
The Tigers' offense will be under the guidance of Chip Lindsey, a seasoned coordinator with previous stints at Michigan, North Carolina, Auburn, and UCF. This change comes after Missouri's 2025 season, where they utilized a dual-quarterback approach.
Beau Pribula led with 1,941 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, while Zollers added 503 yards and four touchdowns. Pribula, hindered by injuries late in the season, missed the Gator Bowl and has since transferred to Virginia.
Missouri is set to kick off their 2026 campaign on September 5 at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. They will then face Kansas on the road and host Troy before diving into SEC play on September 26 at Mississippi State. The Tigers are poised for a fresh start, and all eyes will be on Simmons as he takes the helm.