Austin Simmons reportedly re-signs with Missouri for next season but could still enter 2027 NFL Draft instead

Last fall at Ole Miss, Austin Simmons suffered an ankle injury in an early-season game against Kentucky. That sidelined Simmons just long enough for former Division II standout Trinidad Chambliss to seize the Rebels’ QB1 job.

If Simmons sticks around college football one more season, he’ll spend it with the Tigers, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who reported Friday that the lefty has re-signed with the program for the 2027 campaign.

The contract the soon-to-be 21-year-old Simmons signed, according to Thamel, enables the fast-rising signal-caller to explore the NFL Draft after this 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

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— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 6, 2026

“I’ve held back ranking Simmons until now, similar to how I slow-played Ty Simpson a year ago, because of his lack of experience,” Edholm wrote this week. “However, in a QB class that has been disappointing on the whole, Simmons is among the clear winners. He’s as pretty a thrower as there is in college football, capable of hitting just about anything anywhere when he’s on schedule and the protection holds up. Under pressure is where things get murky, but Simmons is a talent worth investing in.”

Simmons has led Missouri to a 6-2 start this season. Granted, he completed only 56.8% of his passes while throwing no touchdowns and one pick in a blowout loss to Chambliss and then-No. 9 Ole Miss on Oct. 17, but the senior’s otherwise been pretty steady.

He’s tossed at least one touchdown pass in the rest of the Tigers’ games — piling up at least three scoring strikes through the air on three occasions — posting a 16:2 TD-to-interception ratio.

His 1,952 passing yards are the fourth most of any SEC quarterback this season. He’s registered a 63.3% completion rate along the way.

Missouri hosts No. 7 Texas on Saturday afternoon.

College football stars re-upping with their program midseason is increasingly common. Doing so helps schools retain players and recruit others.

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p style=”text-align:left”>Oregon State freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree — a Heisman Trophy candidate — announced last month that he’ll be sticking with the Pac-12’s Beavers for next season. A week later, reports surfaced that quarterback Anthony Colandrea signed a deal to return to Nebraska for next season.