Austin Simmons just re-signed with Missouri for the 2027 season, a move that locks in stability at the most important position on the field. This isn’t just a big signing, it’s the green light for Missouri to aggressively build out its roster in what’s expected to be a wild offseason in the portal, giving them a real shot to be a force next fall.
Simmons’ Explosive First Season as a Tiger
Remember when Simmons started the 2025 season at Ole Miss? He lost that starting job to Trinidad Chambliss before transferring to Missouri, and man, has he found a home. Through eight games this year, Simmons has been an excellent fit. He’s completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,952 yards, slinging 16 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Those numbers have the Tigers squarely in the mix for the College Football Playoff. His aerial attack is the engine of their offense, ranking fourth in the SEC at 257.1 passing yards per game, and sitting at 26th nationally in EPA per dropback at 0.19. That’s some serious efficiency, and with him guaranteed to stay in Columbia, that passing game should keep lighting it up in 2027.
The Portal Hunt: Keeping Weapons, Rebuilding the Trenches
With the quarterback, arguably the most expensive piece, locked up, Missouri can now figure out the rest of the puzzle. They’ve got some legit weapons around Simmons, too. Cayden Lee, a senior, leads the entire SEC in receiving yards. He could chase NFL dreams, sure, but if he considers coming back for a fifth year, every team out there would want him, and he’d be expensive, but totally worth it. Then there’s Donovan Olugbode, who’s only a sophomore but already has 584 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He’s a top-eight receiver in the conference, just like Lee, and he’s definitely sticking around for at least another college season.
The running back situation is similar, with some big decisions ahead. Jamal Roberts leads the SEC with a ridiculous 1,005 rushing yards and could make the jump to the NFL. Ahmad Hardy is another guy who could go pro, though he might want to showcase that he’s fully healed from that gunshot wound earlier this year. If Missouri can keep even one of those guys, the 2027 offense is going to be scary good.
Where they’ll really need to hit the portal hard, though, is the offensive line. They’ve got several fifth-year seniors on the interior, so there’s definitely some work to do there to make sure Simmons stays protected.
Missouri has played their cards right by keeping Simmons in the fold. Now, the real work begins with portal season, and if they nail these next few months, watch out, college football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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