Ole Miss fans have watched the College Football Playoffs unfold, believing they could have beaten most of the teams if they had handled regular-season business.
They also had to watch former Rebel running back Quinshon Judkins lift the trophy as Ohio State beat Notre Dame on Monday evening. It was another dagger in the heart of Ole Miss fans, well, a majority.
Jaxson Dart couldn't deliver the big prize, but that does not diminish what he did bring to the program. Austin Simmons is likely the new QB1 in 2025, although it's not guaranteed. His confidence says otherwise, and his words will have some of the fanbase hyped.
After watching the National Championship Game, Simmons took to social media to deliver a bold statement.
Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons posted on his timeline. pic.twitter.com/1w6i2MEDDS
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) January 21, 2025
It is bold, with the team losing many players to the NFL and running out of eligibility. Lane Kiffin has brought in a whole load of new transfers and 2025 recruits, but the team does not look as strong as in 2024.
That didn't get them to the playoffs, but maybe a team that flies under the radar can. The 2024 Rebels were hyped to the max, with Kiffin knowing it was a problem and hoping his team could ignore the hype. Mostly, they did but faltered in the big moments; they were just missing out on CFP.
Simmons has at least a couple of years to follow through with his statement. His confidence is positive, which has already shone through in his limited playing time last season, especially against Georgia.
We will see what he is made of during spring practice. Down in Oxford, fans believe we have another quarterback gem on our hands.