Missouri Tigers Opt Out of Spring Game, Name Austin Simmons QB1 After March Practices

As the SEC wraps up its traditional Spring Game Saturday events, the Missouri Tigers have taken a different approach to the Spring Ball & Recruiting 2026 season. Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and his staff opted not to hold a traditional public spring game this year. Instead, the team quietly concluded 13 focused spring practices over a 21-day span in late March, solidifying key positions as they look to bounce back from their season-ending Gator Bowl loss to the Virginia Cavaliers.

The most significant development from Missouri's early spring window is the official naming of Austin Simmons as the starting quarterback for the 2026 season. The recent Ole Miss transfer claimed the QB1 spot following the team's March practices, establishing himself at the top of a depth chart that includes Matt Zollers, Nick Evers, and Gavin Sidwar.

Simmons will be operating under a new play-caller this fall. Chip Lindsey has taken over as the new offensive coordinator, stepping in after Kirby Moore departed to become the head coach at Washington State. Lindsey and defensive coordinator Corey Batoon are tasked with integrating a roster that continues to rely heavily on the transfer portal. This team-building strategy is highlighted by the fact that Missouri's entire 2026 NFL Draft prospect group—featuring recent departures like Zion Young, Josiah Trotter, and Kevin Coleman Jr.—consists of players who originally started their collegiate careers at other programs.

Despite the roster turnover and departures, the Tigers retain a solid core of key returning starters, including Cayden Green, Donovan Olugbode, Brett Norfleet, and Ahmad Hardy. Drinkwitz, entering his seventh season in Columbia, operates with the firm backing of a new six-year, $10.75 million annual contract extension signed in late 2025. With spring practices securely in the rearview mirror, Missouri now turns its full attention to the remainder of the Spring Ball & Recruiting 2026 calendar.