Missouri appears to have locked in its starting quarterback for another run.
Austin Simmons has re-signed with the Tigers for the 2027 season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Pete Nakos of On3 reported that the deal still gives Simmons the option to enter the 2027 NFL Draft, and a team spokesperson did not immediately confirm that detail when asked.
That leaves Simmons with a clear path: stay at Missouri or go pro. A move to another college program looks unlikely based on the reported contract.
Simmons arrived in Columbia this past offseason after spending his first three seasons at Ole Miss, and he has settled in quickly. Through eight starts for Missouri this year, the left-handed quarterback has completed 152 of 240 passes for 16 touchdowns and two interceptions while helping the Tigers to a 6-2 record.
The former three-star recruit from Moore Haven High School in Moore Haven, Florida, has stood out with his accuracy and his confidence throwing into tight windows all over the field.
His return would also matter beyond the quarterback spot. Several of Missouri’s skill players are eligible for the 2027 season as well, including running backs Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts, wide receivers Donovan Olugbode, Cayden Lee and Naeshaun Montgomery, and offensive tackles Cayden Green and Luke Work. Lee, Green, Roberts and Hardy have each drawn draft buzz of their own.
Simmons’ production has already put him near the top of the SEC leaderboard. He ranks fourth in the conference in passing yards and is tied for fourth in passing touchdowns, with a chance to add to both totals during Missouri’s four-game finish against No.
7 Texas, No. 2 Georgia, No.
6 Kentucky and unranked Oklahoma.
Missouri’s next test comes Saturday against Texas at 11 a.m. at Memorial Stadium.
In Other News...
Ahmad Hardys Mizzou Return Came After A Comeback Few Saw Coming
Ahmad Hardys path back to the field for Missouri was anything but ordinary. Shot in the leg in May and forced into surgery that placed a metal rod in his femur, the running back spent months working through rehab before finally making it back for Halloween, when he took part in the Tigers win over Arkansas.
For a Missouri team that has leaned on toughness all season, Hardys return carried real weight beyond the box score. Eli Drinkwitz made clear how much the staff valued both the recovery itself and the way Hardy was able to contribute once he was back on the field, a reminder of how much had to go right just for this moment to happen. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Just Got A Much Tougher SLU Problem Than Expected
What had looked like a straightforward early-season matchup for Missouri has suddenly become more complicated. St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Jason Sengheiser granted Robbie Avila an injunction that gives him a fifth year of eligibility and blocks the NCAA from using roster limits to keep him off the floor, and Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz confirmed Avila will be dressed and available for the Billikens upcoming game against Missouri.
For a Tigers team already preparing for a cross-town test, the timing matters. Avilas case mirrors that of Mark Mitchell, who also received a court allowance to return to the Saint Louis roster, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game that now carries a little more intrigue than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Just Sent A Clear Message By Bringing Back SLU
Missouri is making a notable scheduling move with Saint Louis, bringing the Billikens back onto the Tigers calendar for the first time since 2001. The teams are set to meet Nov. 6 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, and the game will be part of a new annual series over the next three years under the Regions Bank Show-Me Showdown banner.
Dennis Gates initiated the matchup, a sign that Missouri is willing to lean into regional rivalries while also strengthening its nonconference profile. Both coaches have acknowledged the weight of the game, and for the Tigers, this is the kind of meeting that can matter when NCAA Tournament resumes are being judged later in the season. [Read more 🡒]