Florida’s path to a 5-0 start runs through a familiar name this Saturday, and the matchup comes with a recruiting backstory that still feels a little surreal.
Missouri’s starting quarterback, Austin Simmons, once pledged to the Gators. Now he’s lined up on the other side, playing well enough to make the old what-if game even more tempting. Through the early part of 2026, Simmons has completed 65% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.
His route to this point has been anything but straight. Simmons committed to Florida in April of 2023 as a class of 2025 prospect, and at the time the plan looked simple enough: DJ Lagway in 2024, then Simmons in 2025.
Simmons was already drawing praise for the way he threw the ball. In March of 2023, when he first surfaced on Florida’s radar, the evaluation read:
“He can make all throws you want to see in a highlight package. His deep shots hit his receivers in stride as do his slant route throws. He also can hit the out route, something a certain former Florida football QB struggled with.
Simmons doesn’t have much wasted motion when he throws and when scanning the field he will flip his hips quickly when opting to throw to the other side of the field. The handful of times he does get pressure he stays poised and will climb the pocket as needed.”
Then came the twist. By June, there were whispers that Simmons might reclassify from 2025 to 2023. After a bit of confusion, that’s exactly what happened - and he also flipped to Ole Miss.
When he made that move, his father said: “But the schedule is too tough, and they want DJ Lagway.”
Simmons spent 2023 through 2025 in Oxford. He opened last season as Ole Miss’ starter, but an ankle injury in Week 2 opened the door for Trinidad Chambliss, who took over his job.
Lane Kiffin left for LSU in the offseason, but Simmons did not follow him. Instead, he ended up at Missouri.
There’s a strange layer to the whole thing: the reasoning from the Simmons camp about Lagway blocking the path may not have held up the way they expected. If Simmons had stayed with Florida and arrived in the class of 2023, he might have played right away. Graham Mertz was injured during the 2023 season, and the door that went to Max Brown could just as easily have gone to Simmons.
And then there’s the bigger what-if. If Simmons had gotten to Gainesville in 2023, would he have been positioned to back up the quarterback room in 2024 and eventually take over as the starter by the end of that season?
That part will never be answered.
What is certain is simpler: Florida now has to deal with the quarterback who might have been theirs in another version of the story.
In Other News...
Chiefs Could Catch A Big Break In This Raiders Matchup
The Raiders offensive line is suddenly worth watching as their unbeaten meeting with the Chiefs draws closer, with rookie right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson dealing with a groin injury he picked up in Week 3. Powers-Johnson, a 2024 second-round pick, has been part of a line the Raiders hoped would stabilize things up front, but his status now adds some uncertainty to a matchup that already carries plenty of AFC West weight.
If Powers-Johnson cant go, Caleb Rogers would be in line to step in after being taken in the third round of the 2025 draft. The Raiders also added Tyler Linderbaum as a key offseason piece along the offensive line, so Kansas City will be keeping an eye on whether Las Vegas can hold its front together in a game that matters early in the division race. [Read more 🡒]
Brittany Mahomes Just Shared A Family Tribute Fans Had Never Seen
Brittany Mahomes has never been shy about showing how much family means to her, but her latest post gave fans a closer look at a tribute with a very personal touch. The tattoo on her arm, revealed during a Kansas City Chiefs game and later shown on her Instagram Story, honors Patrick Mahomes and the couples three children in a way that feels both detailed and deeply intentional.
Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Matthews have been together since high school, and their relationship has grown alongside his rise with the Chiefs, leading to a wedding in 2022 and a family of five. The new ink includes the childrens names, their birthdates and facial profiles, along with Patrick Mahomes initials, a sign of just how much their home life has become part of the public story around Kansas City. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reid Brings Extra Edge Into Chiefs Raiders Showdown In Vegas
Andy Reid walked into his press conference ahead of the Chiefs-Raiders matchup in Las Vegas with a little more context than usual, and it fit the moment. He was told he owns the most wins at Allegiant Stadium, a list that includes a Super Bowl victory, and now he gets another high-stakes visit as Kansas City and Las Vegas meet with both teams undefeated at 3-0. Reids history in the building is already lopsided, too, as he carries a 6-1 record at the Raiders home stadium.
For Reid, the setting only adds to a rivalry that already had plenty of juice. He said he is looking forward to the game and acknowledged the Raiders have improved, which makes this week feel a little different than a routine divisional trip. The Chiefs have been here before with Reid, and this time the backdrop is even sharper because a perfect start for both teams leaves little room for anyone to back into control of the AFC West race. [Read more 🡒]