Austin Simmons named Mizzou starting quarterback

By: Nathalie Jones

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -- Mizzou football has its new starter behind center.

On Thursday afternoon, the Tigers' social media accounts sent out a post naming Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons as the new starting quarterback, after just three weeks of spring camp practices. Simmons won the job over returning sophomore Matt Zollers.

The senior joined head coach Eli Drinkwitz's team two with two year of eligibility left in Jan., after spending his first three years in Oxford and redshirting in the 2023 season.

Over the course of the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, the former Ole Miss quarterback appeared in 17 games for the Rebels, completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,026 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. In the last two season, Simmons started in two games, where he threw for a combined 576 yards and three scores, as well as four interceptions against both Georgia State and Kentucky.

Simmons earned his number over the course of fall camp, as he'll sport No. 13 at Faurot Field in the fall.