Mizzou decides on QB, throws Matt Zollers’ future into question

The Missouri Tigers did not feel the need to wait until fall camp to name their starting quarterback for the 2026 season.

There was a competition this spring between sophomore Matt Zollers, a former 4-star recruit, and Ole Miss transfer quarterback Austin Simmons.

That was a competition that Simmons has won, according to reports, and it makes sense.

A former 4-star quarterback himself, Simmons, from Moore Haven, Fla., committed to then-head coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels as a high school recruit. 

He was actually named the starting quarterback ahead of the 2025 season as a sophomore over Trinidad Chambliss, but he injured his ankle in Ole Miss’ Week 2 win over Kentucky. 

Chambliss took over the next week against Arkansas, and the rest was history for Ole Miss, which went on to have a historic season while making a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Chambliss will be coming back for one more season in 2026, which caused Simmons to enter the winter transfer portal window, and that’s when Mizzou picked him up.

He’s now officially Mizzou’s starting quarterback.