Mizzou announces QB1 for 2026 as spring practice concludes
By David Wasson
Published:
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz has made a decision on who the Tigers’ QB1 will be to start 2026: Austin Simmons.
The former Ole Miss starter, who transferred to Columbia after the 2025 season, beat out fellow portal mate Nick Evers and rising sophomore Matt Zollers for the job during spring practice.
Simmons began 2025 as the Rebels starter before an ankle injury forced him to the sideline in favor of Trinidad Chambliss – who went on to lead Ole Miss to its first College Football Playoff berth.
In two years in Oxford, Simmons passed for 1,026 yards and six touchdowns against five interceptions. Simmons redshirted in 2023 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Chip Lindsey has taken the reins of the Mizzou offense after holding the same post at Michigan, North Carolina, Auburn and UCF.
Missouri played two quarterbacks in 2025, with Beau Pribula throwing for 1,941 yards and 11 touchdowns and Zollers throwing for 503 yards and four more scores. Pribula, who was hampered by injury late in the 2025 campaign, sat out Mizzou’s Gator Bowl loss to Virginia and transferred to Virginia after the season ended.
Mizzou begins the 2026 season Sept. 5 at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and plays at Kansas and at home vs. Troy before the SEC season begins Sept. 26 at Mississippi State.
Can Austin Simmons lead Mizzou to the CFP? Kalshi is taking action on predictions!
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
