The Tigers signal-caller, fourth in the SEC in passing yards per game, will stay in Columbia even as his NFL draft stock climbs.
Missouri has re-signed quarterback Austin Simmons for the 2027 season, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, giving coach Eli Drinkwitz a building block for the program's future.
Simmons has been one of the SEC's more productive passers this year, sitting fourth in the conference at 244 passing yards per game, and his play has drawn enough attention that his NFL draft stock has reportedly been rising. That makes the decision to stay notable: rather than treating this season as a springboard out of Columbia, Simmons is betting on building something longer term with the Tigers.
The timing lines up with a pivotal stretch for Missouri, which sits at 6-2 and tied for fifth in the SEC, a half-game behind Ole Miss and Alabama for fourth. The Tigers are slight underdogs heading into a Week 10 matchup against Arch Manning and Texas, a game that doubles as a stage for Simmons to show he belongs in the national conversation.
With his future settled, the focus now shifts to what Missouri builds around him. CBS Sports noted the Tigers can start constructing a roster with higher expectations for 2027 now that their quarterback situation is no longer a question mark.