Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after the Rebels finish their College Football Playoff run, according to Mark Schlabach’s sources with ESPN.
It’s the kind of move that feels both expected and strange at the same time, fitting neatly into a season that never quite went according to plan.
Simmons is expected to remain with Ole Miss through the postseason, including the College Football Playoff.
After that, he’ll officially step into the portal with a no-contact tag, a signal that usually means everyone already has a pretty good idea where this thing is headed.
NEWS: Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, per an ESPN source. He’s entering with a no contact tag, with Missouri as the favorite to land him. He’s expected to stay with Ole Miss through the CFP. pic.twitter.com/z7B6jaNhz6
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 2, 2026
Simmons opened the season as the Rebels’ starting quarterback and wasted little time showing why.
In the opener, he threw for 341 yards with three touchdowns, looking comfortable and confident in an offense built to score quickly and often. For at least one Saturday, it looked like Ole Miss had found its guy for the long haul.
Then came the ankle injury in the second game. It wasn’t flashy or dramatic, just the kind of bad break that quietly changes everything.
Simmons injured his left ankle and never fully reclaimed the role he started the season with.
That door opened for Trinidad Chambliss, a Division II transfer who stepped in and didn’t step out.
Chambliss took over the offense and helped guide Ole Miss through the rest of the season, eventually leading the Rebels to a spot in the College Football Playoff. By the time Simmons was healthy again, the team had already moved on.
Simmons finished the season appearing in four games and attempting just 20 passes after the injury.
His overall numbers included 744 passing yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 60 percent of his throws.
They aren’t numbers that scream stardom, but they also don’t tell the full story of a season interrupted.
Now comes the next step. Sources say Simmons will enter the portal with a no-contact designation, meaning other programs cannot reach out to him. That label often points toward an expected destination, and Missouri has been widely viewed as the likely landing spot.
Missouri is in the market for a quarterback after its starter entered the portal, and Simmons fits the profile of what teams want this time of year.
He has starting experience, postseason exposure and eligibility remaining. He’s also a graduate transfer, which makes the move easier both on and off the field.
It’s a quiet ending to Simmons’ time in Oxford, especially considering how loud it started. One strong opening game, one untimely injury and a depth chart that shifted without waiting for him to catch up.
For Ole Miss, the timing matters. The Rebels are still playing meaningful football, and Simmons staying through the playoff run speaks to a professional approach in an era that doesn’t always reward patience.
Not every player sticks around once the writing is on the wall.
The Rebels, meanwhile, continue to ride Chambliss, who stabilized the position after Simmons went down.
Ole Miss has also filed paperwork with the NCAA seeking an additional year of eligibility for Chambliss, though no decision has been announced.
That process will shape how the quarterback room looks moving forward.
Simmons’ decision underscores how thin the line can be between being “the guy” and being the next name in the portal. One injury, one hot hand behind you, and suddenly the future points somewhere else.
Once Simmons officially enters the portal, he’ll become one of the more closely watched quarterbacks available. Teams looking for experience will see a player who started in the SEC, handled early success and navigated adversity.
It’s not a dramatic exit. There’s no controversy, no public frustration. Just a player finishing the season with his team and preparing for a fresh start somewhere new.
In college football’s current landscape, that almost counts as a calm ending.
