Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons plans to enter portal, sources say
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Austin Simmons throws 26-yard touchdown pass to Harrison Wallace III (0:13)
Austin Simmons throws 26-yard touchdown pass to Harrison Wallace III (0:13)
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Mark SchlabachJan 2, 2026, 05:04 PM ET
- Senior college football writer
- Author of seven books on college football
- Graduate of the University of Georgia
Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons, who opened the 2025 season as the starter before getting hurt and losing the job to Trinidad Chambliss, plans to enter the transfer portal, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Missouri is Simmons’ likely landing spot and that he is entering the transfer portal with a no-contact tag, meaning other schools aren’t permitted to reach out to him.
Simmons is expected to remain with the Rebels throughout the College Football Playoff. No. 6 Ole Miss plays No. 10 Miami in a CFP semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The Miami native will be a graduate transfer with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Simmons’ departure might force the Rebels to sign a starting quarterback for the 2026 season from the transfer portal, if the NCAA doesn’t grant Chambliss a waiver for a sixth season of eligibility. Ole Miss filed a waiver petition for Chambliss on Nov. 16 but hasn’t received a decision from the NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.
Chambliss has passed for 3,660 yards with 21 touchdowns and run for 520 yards with eight scores this season. He finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.
«I think the NCAA is closed right now,» Chambliss said after Thursday’s 39-34 upset of No. 3 Georgia in a CFP quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. «I’m pretty sure they open [Friday]. So hopefully we hear an answer soon.»
Even if Chambliss is granted a sixth season, he could join former coach Lane Kiffin at LSU or test the lucrative quarterback market in the transfer portal.
Simmons started the Rebels’ opener against Georgia State, throwing for 341 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in a 63-7 victory. However, Simmons injured his left ankle in a 30-23 win at Kentucky on Sept. 6.
He was replaced by Chambliss, a Division II transfer from Ferris State, the next week against Arkansas, the first of his 12 consecutive starts.
Simmons attempted only 20 passes in four games after he was hurt. He has completed 60% of his attempts for 744 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
The Tigers are in the market for a quarterback after 2025 starter Beau Pribula decided to enter the transfer portal. Freshman Matt Zollers started after Sam Horn and Pribula were sidelined with injuries this season.
