The Ole Miss Rebels' historic charge towards a first national championship since 1962 is being overshadowed by significant off-field upheaval, with quarterback Austin Simmons announcing his departure and a raft of coaches poised to defect to LSU.
Simmons Heads for the Exit
Austin Simmons, the 20-year-old who began the 2025 season as the Rebels' starting quarterback, has declared his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal. His decision comes after he lost the starting role to Trinitas Chambliss, who has since spearheaded the team's deep playoff run.
Simmons, who served as backup to now-New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart last season, started two games this campaign before an ankle injury derailed his progress. ESPN reports he has a no-contact tag attached to his portal entry, strongly indicating a likely move to the Missouri Tigers for the 2026 season, where he will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Coaching Staff in Limbo Ahead of Semifinal
The quarterback's exit is compounded by a potential mass departure of the Rebels' coaching staff to join former head coach Lane Kiffin at LSU. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr, tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald, and running backs coach Kevin Smith have all signed contracts with the Tigers.
An agreement is in place for them to remain with Ole Miss for their New Year's Day Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia, a stunning 39-34 win that propelled them to the semifinals. However, it remains unclear whether they will be on the sideline for next weekend's crucial playoff clash against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes, or if they will be forced to begin work in Baton Rouge immediately.
"There are going to be some fireworks. We always knew this was going to be a possibility," an Ole Miss source told ESPN.
Historic Run Amidst Internal Chaos
The timing of the disruptions is particularly jarring as first-year head coach Pete Golding stands just two wins away from securing a legendary national title for the program. The coaches reportedly wish to stay for the playoff run, but the logistical pull of LSU's recruiting efforts is creating a major conflict.
This follows the acrimonious departure of Kiffin himself, who publicly stated that his request to coach the Rebels through the postseason was denied by Ole Miss leadership, a move he claimed was against the team's wishes.
With the transfer portal now officially open and the new Kiffin era commencing at LSU, Ole Miss must navigate this period of intense transition while preparing for the biggest game of their season, where they are favourites to advance to the national championship.
