Lane Kiffin expects Austin Simmons to be good to go this week when Ole Miss takes on Tulane.
The sophomore quarterback has had a banged up left ankle and did not start in Saturday's 41-35 win over Arkansas. Simmons was inserted in the game for four snaps in the second quarter and appeared to re-injure his ankle. But Kiffin said that he expects Simmons to return to the starting role this Saturday.
Lane Kiffin said he anticipates Austin Simmons to be the team's starting quarterback this weekend.
— Michael Katz (@MichaelLKatz) September 15, 2025
"He's doing good. I would anticipate Austin being fine to play and being our starting quarterback," Kiffin said.
Simmons injured the ankle in the fourth quarter against Kentucky on September 13. Neither he nor Kiffin seemed to treat the injury like a big deal, and Simmons wasn't even listed on the initial injury report. However, reports came out early Saturday afternoon that Simmons was not expected to start.
He was forced to enter the game in the second quarter after Trinidad Chambliss took a hit on his throwing hand. Simmons played four snaps and threw a touchdown pass. When Simmons got back to the sidelines, he could barely put any weight on his ankle.
Chambliss will be ready if needed
Chambliss did not look like a backup in any shape or form in leading Ole Miss to the win. He threw for 353 yards and rushed for an additional 62 yards with two touchdowns. The Ferris State transfer said he was a little nervous before the game, but didn't show it.
Kiffin was asked about going into a Division II program to get a player and said that Ole Miss already had a lot of success with G5 transfers and will continue to search wherever they can for more talent.
"I don't think we have [taken a D2 player before], but part of that was because you weren't in a free agency portal world before, so you didn't take near as many transfers, and they had to sit out. That's all changed now to where it's truly like the NFL, you know, like free agency," Kiffin said. "We try to look at everybody, and we've taken a lot of guys from Group of Five schools over the years and really have had a lot of success with, so there's no reason not to go down another level."