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'Not a grudge match': Austin Simmons returns to Ole Miss to face Trinidad Chambliss, the QB who took his job

Austin Simmons returns to Oxford this weekend for a highly anticipated showdown against Trinidad Chambliss, the quarterback who briefly replaced him at Ole Miss in 2025. Simmons, who left the Rebels after a single start due to an ankle injury, had thrown just one touchdown pass before being sidelined.

Chambliss, a Division II transfer, seized the opportunity and dominated the season, finishing with 3,937 passing yards and an eighth-place finish in Heisman voting. The two quarterbacks now stand nearly even in career stats, with Simmons posting 1,434 yards and 14 touchdowns in one more game than Chambliss, who has 1,435 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Simmons, who transferred to Missouri after Ole Miss’ playoff run, brings two former Rebels teammates—wide receiver Cayden Lee and cornerback Chris Graves Jr.—back to Oxford. Despite the competitive edge, Simmons’ father clarified it’s not a grudge match, emphasizing both players achieved their goals: Simmons revived Missouri’s program, while Chambliss remains a top-tier prospect leading Ole Miss toward another playoff push.

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