Austin Simmons’ debut was everything Ole Miss fans hoped for

In his much-anticipated first career start, sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons wasted no time making his presence felt for Ole Miss, leading the Rebels to a commanding 63-7 season-opening victory over Georgia State in Oxford. It was a debut filled with big throws, efficient drives, and a glimpse at what could be the future of Lane Kiffin’s offense.

Simmons, stepping into the role vacated by former starter Jaxson Dart, looked composed beyond his years. The left-handed signal-caller completed 20 of 31 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns, while also tossing two interceptions. Although there were early signs of nerves, Simmons quickly settled in, showing poise in the pocket and delivering a variety of sharp throws across the field.

Perhaps most impressive was Simmons’ ability to spread the ball around. Eight different receivers caught passes on the night, with transfer wideout Harrison Wallace III emerging as the top target, recording five receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown.

That chemistry will be vital as Ole Miss enters the heart of its schedule. The Rebels’ offense was balanced and explosive, racking up an eye-popping 695 total yards, the highest mark in the nation on opening weekend.

Simmons clearly showcased that he has all the talent in the world. The ball placement looked elite. Most notable was a back shoulder throw, right on the money, to Harrison Wallace. Simmons also flashed his athleticism, moving well on the ground on several occasions to help move the chains.

Now, that doesn't mean everything was perfect, as Simmons threw two interceptions. There will always be some growing pains when you are playing a 19-year-old quarterback, however, Simmons has the mental ability to learn from these mistakes.

The first interception, didn't seem to be his fault as much, and Lane Kiffin confirmed this. RG Kutas absolutely was beat of the snap allowing the rusher a free shot at Simmons which caused his pass to flaw into the arms of a Georgia State defender.

The second one was more worrying. Simmons started down Wright, and after he beat his defended rifled a shot to him in the end zone, however he did not pick up the back side safety who easily intercepted the pass. Recognized, this coverage is something that Simmons had struggled on through the preseason, and he will need to continue to iron that out of his game.

Kiffin praised Simmons after the game for his maturity, noting that while the interceptions will provide teaching moments, the overall performance showed exactly why the Rebels were confident handing him the reins. "Yeah, he had one really bad play. You know, the second interception.

"The first one's not his fault, the right guard gets beat, there were blown covers. We're going into score a 75-yard touchdown, walk in the end zone, and the guy that blows the coverage picks it off. So, that's not his fault.

"The other one is. We've seen that before, young quarterback, kind of almost the same interception we saw Jaxson (Dart) threw at home to his right his first year. But I thought he did some really good things. Scrambled the way that we would want, you know, slid and took care of himself, but also showed that he could move around and make some plays with his feet." Kiffin said.

For a program looking to maintain momentum in the post-Dart era, Simmons’ debut provided reassurance that the offense won’t miss a beat. His ability to command drives, push the ball downfield, and bounce back from early mistakes highlighted both his talent and composure. Simmons will certainly face much tougher challenges in the weeks ahead, including his first SEC road state this weekend in Kentucky, but Simmons flashed the makeup of an elite SEC QB.