
The Missouri Tigers used the transfer portal just as well as any team did ahead of the 2026.
The major addition came in the form of former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons. Simmons, a former four-star quarterback, was injured for most of last season. He has thrived since arriving on campus in Missouri and the partnership between the two sides will go beyond the remainder of 2026.
According to ESPN's college football insider Pete Thame, Simmons has re-signed with Missouri for the 2027 season.
Simmons was recently ranked as the No. 12 overall prospect and No. 5 ranked quarterback on NFL analyst Mel Kiper's big board for the 2027 NFL Draft. Kiper will now have to remove Simmons, as he is headed back to college for another season.
The deal for Simmons to return to college next season will also give Missouri a sense of security and allow it to allocate NIL funds at other positions, rather than needing to look for and spend money on a quarterback for a second consecutive season.
Sources: Missouri has re-signed quarterback Austin Simmons for the 2027 season, which would bring back a player who projects as one of the faces of the sport. By signing now, Simmons’ return allows the staff at Missouri to retain and recruit a top roster. pic.twitter.com/aN5PP6QIjK
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 6, 2026
Entering play on Saturday, Simmons has thrown for 1,952 yards with 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His improved ball security has done wonders, as he threw five interceptions last season in just 75 attempts, compared to two in 240 attempts thus far in 2026.
Simmons will have one of his biggest tests of the season on Saturday when he faces a Texas defense that thrives on getting after the quarterback and forcing bad decisions.
If the Tigers are able to emerge victorious on Saturday, it'll likely be because of a big game from Simmons as he continues to build his draft stock and have Missouri fans excited for both the remainder of this season and all of next season.
More must-reads:
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!