Ole Miss is preparing for one of the biggest challenges of their season, a road trip to Athens to face Georgia on Saturday, and quarterback Austin Simmons’ status remains the biggest question mark hanging over the Rebels. Simmons, who opened the 2025 season as the starter after an impressive offseason, suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 against Kentucky that has sidelined him for the last four games. The injury has been a lingering issue, and Simmons appears to be in a walking boot. He has been ruled out multiple times after the initial injury, but it seems like the day he starts again is here now.

Lane Kiffin has provided the latest update on Simmons’ condition, and the news sounds cautiously optimistic heading into the Georgia showdown. “He’s really pushing through… I commend him a lot for that. I know he’s ready to go if we go with him,” Kiffin said, suggesting that Simmons has put himself in position to potentially reclaim the starting job.

This marks a significant development from earlier statements where Lane Kiffin indicated Simmons was “continuing to get closer to 100 percent” but “not there yet.” And now, there is evidence from the head coach himself. The fact that Kiffin is publicly acknowledging Simmons is “ready to go” represents the most definitive statement yet about his availability. 

However, Kiffin has been very careful not to commit to a starting QB. Just last week, he said, “We have two exceptional quarterbacks,” and that both are “superior to many teams’ No. 1 options.” It seems like that sentiment will continue this week, too, especially since they’re up against Georgia. They will make the opponent keep guessing on which QB they’ll play, just like Oklahoma did with John Mateer. But honestly, Chambliss has given Kiffin every reason to stick with him despite Simmons’ health improving. 

The Division II transfer from Ferris State, where he won a national championship in 2024, has been nothing short of spectacular in his four starts, leading Ole Miss to victories over Arkansas, Tulane, LSU, and Washington State to keep the Rebels undefeated at 6-0.

Chambliss has thrown for 1,286 yards, seven touchdowns, and just one interception while adding 281 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns through six games. His dual-threat ability has been on full display, with Chambliss going for at least 300 total yards and a rushing touchdown in each of his first three starts. In the win over LSU, Ole Miss’s biggest game of the season until Georgia, Chambliss threw for 314 yards and added crucial rushing production. 

The Georgia matchup represents a monumental challenge regardless of who starts at quarterback for Ole Miss, and Lane Kiffin knows it. “We get to play a premier program in college football. I think in five years, they’ve only lost to Alabama and our game last year. Kirby finds a lot of different ways to win games; that’s why he’s the best coach in college football,” Kiffin said, heaping praise on Kirby Smart and acknowledging what the Rebels are up against. 

Chambliss’ margin for error just got a lot smaller

Kiffin’s update on Austin Simmons being “ready to go” might sound encouraging to a lot of fans. But it’s also a pretty clear message to Trinidad Chambliss because his leash just got a lot smaller. The Washington State game was a wake-up call in more ways than one for the Division II transfer, who had been nearly flawless through his first three starts but looked downright shaky against the Cougars.

Chambliss struggled badly in the first half, missing open receivers and fumbling into sacks before Kiffin delivered a halftime reality check that probably stung more than a little. Going into the locker room, Lane Kiffin was asked what he told Trinidad after the first touchdown drive, and the coach didn’t sugarcoat it: “Let’s get to play like he did in that series. Let’s not go back to that Division II stuff.” That’s about as blunt as it gets from a coach to his quarterback, especially one who’s been riding high with a 6-0 record.​

Kiffin’s comment landed hard because it exposed the underlying concern he has had all along. Chambliss’ success might not translate when things get tough against elite competition. Against Washington State, a team Ole Miss should have demolished by double digits, Chambliss looked rattled early and needed a halftime intervention to settle down. He responded in the second half with a 17-yard rushing touchdown and the game-winning 35-yard touchdown pass to Cayden Lee, finishing 20 of 29 for 253 yards and two touchdowns, plus 15 rushing yards and another score.