Mizzou’s quarterback room was thrown into flux after the 2025 season. Following Beau Pribula’s transfer to Virginia, Matt Zollers was the only remaining scholarship QB on the roster.
The Tigers, though, added a pair of players from the transfer portal: Austin Simmons (Ole Miss) and Nick Evers (UConn). Simmons was named Ole Miss’s starter in 2025 before his injury saw Trinidad Chambliss take the reins at the Rebels’ QB1. Evers played in just three games for UConn the previous season. After an ankle injury sidelined Pribula late in the season, Zollers — a true freshman — stepped in, eventually starting the Gator Bowl as well.
So who will win out? According to ESPN’s Eli Lederman, Max Olson, and Adam Rittenberg, it’ll be Simmons.
“Simmons’ raw throwing ability alone will provide the type of downfield dimension the 8-5 Tigers sorely lacked last fall and should help balance an offense that will be returning running backs Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts, who combined for 2,402 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns,” they wrote. “If Missouri can tap Simmons’ full potential, he could prove to be another savvy portal pickup for coach Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers.”
We’ll never know what would have happened at Ole Miss if Simmons hadn’t gotten injured against Arkansas in mid-September. But after entering the transfer portal and making an in-conference move from Oxford to Columbia, he’ll have a second chance to be an SEC starter if he can beat out Zollers and Evers.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
