Austin Simmons is heading back to Oxford with a very different uniform and a lot more responsibility.
This time, the former Ole Miss quarterback walks in as the starter for No. 13 Missouri, and Saturday afternoon’s trip to No.
9 Ole Miss gives the Tigers a matchup loaded with familiar faces. Simmons is one of three Missouri players who came from Ole Miss, joining top receiver Cayden Lee and cornerback Chris Graves Jr.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said he wants that group to keep the moment in its proper place.
"The biggest thing is to not make it bigger than it is," Drinkwitz told reporters Tuesday. "There are great memories from there. I think everybody left there in a positive light on both sides."
Drinkwitz also said, "We talk about the joy of the journey," Drinkwitz said. "That was a part of their journey that made them who they are right now. I don't think there has to be a whole lot more to it than that."
Simmons and the other former Rebels were not made available Tuesday to discuss the move, though Simmons’ Instagram account still includes several posts from his time in Oxford.
On the field, Missouri arrives with momentum and a quarterback playing at a high level. The Tigers are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference after back-to-back home wins over league opponents, including a 27-6 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday.
Their biggest win so far came in a 45-17 rout of Florida on Oct. 3.
Simmons has been a big reason why. He ranks 11th in FBS in passing efficiency rating, has completed 65% of his passes and has thrown for 14 touchdowns against one interception on 165 attempts.
"He's playing as an experienced quarterback in a really good system," Ole Miss coach Pete Golding said.
Lee has become a major piece of the Tigers’ offense as well. He leads Missouri with 42 catches and 616 receiving yards, and he has scored five touchdowns. Jamal Roberts said the former Ole Miss transfers will be ready for the emotion of the matchup.
"I feel like those guys are definitely going to come out and play with a chip on their shoulder," tailback Jamal Roberts said. "We definitely can let them guys handle that."
Roberts gives Ole Miss another problem to solve. He’s coming off two straight 200-plus-yard games and leads the SEC with 828 rushing yards, which also ranks second nationally. Missouri’s top back last season, Ahmad Hardy, is recovering from an offseason gunshot wound.
Golding knows Roberts can wreck a game if Ole Miss isn’t sharp.
"He has the most yards after contact right now, which is something that has been an issue for us on tape," Golding said.
Ole Miss enters at 4-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play after rolling past Vanderbilt 52-17 on Saturday. The Rebels also own wins over ranked teams LSU and Louisville, and Chambliss remains very much in the Heisman Trophy conversation and on NFL radars.
Still, Drinkwitz sees a team that can hurt Missouri in a lot of ways.
"They're a total team," Drinkwitz said. "We need to play our best, most complete game to even be in the game."
Missouri’s last road trip ended badly, with the Tigers blowing a fourth-quarter lead in a loss at Mississippi State. Drinkwitz said that lesson has to stick.
"One hundred percent, there's a lot of things from that game that we can't do," Drinkwitz said.
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