Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons plans to enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.
The redshirt sophomore quarterback began the season as the Rebels’ starter but gave way to transfer Trinidad Chambliss after suffering an ankle injury in September. Chambliss hung on to the starting job after starting in Simmons’ place, and Simmons has served as the Rebels’ backup during their run to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
ESPN and On3 reported Simmons’ intention to transfer. Simmons intends to stay with the Rebels through the remainder of their Playoff run, according to On3. Ole Miss (13-1) will meet Miami (12-2) in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday.
Coming into the 2025 season, Simmons was viewed as the clear successor to former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, who was a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Simmons, a former four-star recruit, signed with Ole Miss in the Class of 2023 after reclassifying up by two years. He served as Dart’s backup in 2024 and earned his college degree by the time he was 19.
This season, Simmons started the first two games of the season and appeared in eight total, completing 45 of 75 passes for 744 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown.
Simmons will enter the portal as a graduate transfer and will have two years of eligibility left.
What will the market look like for Simmons?
Despite Simmons’ lack of extensive college playing time — he has 262 career snaps in three years — he’ll be a coveted transfer because of his talent level. The lefty has a terrific arm, is a versatile athlete and would easily be one of the 10 best transfer quarterbacks available in this portal cycle.
In recent months, as Chambliss became a Heisman Trophy candidate, the Rebels barreled toward the Playoff and Lane Kiffin prepared his eventual exit for LSU, Simmons was rumored to be a potential target for multiple teams that would be seeking a transfer quarterback for 2026, including LSU and Miami. Kiffin’s move to LSU only fueled further speculation on that Simmons might head to Baton Rouge, but early reports indicate that Missouri is the team to watch in the race for Simmons.
Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff are on the hunt for a transfer after the Tigers’ 2025 starter, Beau Pribula, declared his intentions to transfer in December and officially entered the portal on Friday.
