Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss (6) passes the ball as Tulane LB Sam Howard gives chase during the second quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025. Petre Thomas / Imagn ImagesOXFORD, Miss. — The most-watched storyline in Oxford this week isn’t the ESPN cameras rolling into town or even the magnitude of Saturday’s matchup with LSU — it’s the health of Austin Simmons.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin confirmed Monday that Simmons, the Rebels’ starting quarterback for the first four games of the season, is dealing with an undisclosed injury that has left his status in doubt for the Magnolia Bowl. And the decision on who takes the first snap won’t be about performance.
“Health, for sure,” Kiffin said when asked about the factors that will determine who starts. “To see if Austin’s at 100%. These guys are really good. They’re loaded on defense and they’re the best they’ve been on defense since we’ve played them.”
Simmons did not practice in full early in the week, according to Kiffin, who said Monday’s workout was only a walk-through. As of then, “not enough to evaluate,” the coach said.
“But at 100% he is our starting quarterback,” Kiffin added. “We don’t know what percentage he’ll be.”
If Simmons isn’t cleared, the next man up is sophomore Trinidad Chambliss — who has already seen meaningful action this season and has shown enough in limited reps to force LSU’s defensive staff to prep for both.
On3 reporter Pete Nakos reported Wednesday that Chambliss will start Saturday while Simmons recovers from an ankle injury, a report not confirmed by Ole Miss.
In four games, Simmons has completed 61.5% of his passes for 1,045 yards, 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, according to Ole Miss official stats. He’s added 112 yards rushing and another score. His command of the tempo-heavy Rebels offense has kept Ole Miss undefeated — and at No. 11 in the national rankings.
Chambliss, though, has a different skill set. While less polished as a passer, his ability to extend plays and keep drives alive with his legs presents problems for a defense like LSU’s that thrives on backfield pressure.
“They do it with two quarterbacks now,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said. “Which is very difficult to do, but they’ve managed it quite well.”
Kelly described both Simmons and Chambliss as “extremely effective and efficient,” calling Ole Miss “a dual threat situation” because of what both can do throwing and running.
That threat is why Kiffin said he’ll wait until Simmons is fully evaluated — and possibly until game day — before locking in a decision. With LSU bringing one of the SEC’s most physical defenses to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the call won’t be made lightly.
The only thing Kiffin made clear: if Simmons is fully healthy, the job is his.
“At 100%, he is our guy,” Kiffin said.