While quarterback Austin Simmons was the big transfer portal add for Missouri, the Tigers' coaching staff isn't just handing him the keys right off the bat.
Newly hired offensive coordiantor Chip Lindsey spoke to the media today, and made it clear that there will be a quarterback competion with Simmons and primarily Matt Zollers. While the coaches havn't provided any timeline or specifics about the battle, it's clear there won't be a starter announcement anytime soon.
"I think at the end of the day it's a competition, and we're trying to put them in different scenarios throughout spring practice," said Lindsey. "Whether it's situational football or even just one-on-one's, who understands how to layer the ball, who understands how to drive the ball when they're supposed to, who can throw guys open? You know all those things play into it and that's why we get to practice in the spring and and kind of see how those guys develop and and try to give them the best opportunity to be successful."
Mizzou still not ready to name a starting QB ahead of the 2026 season
Simmons was added to the quarterback room after last season's starter Beau Pribula left for the portal. Zollers, who played a few games last season as a freshman and threw for 503 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, returns and is still expected to be the future of the position. But whether or not that happens in 2026 will be determined this spring.
Simmons is the favorite to win the job, certainly, but maybe Mizzou wants to be absolutely sure they get the right guy on the field. For now, the Tigers will use this spring to get a better feel for the offense as a whole, and maybe see one quarterback emerge as the clear choice.
"I like the way they prepare," Lindsey continued. "You can tell those guys come to our meetings prepared. I think they all are competitive, they all want to do well. They all want to go out and and give themselves the best opportunity they can be to win the job and I think that's that's what you want you want in every room. You need a competitive room where you can make each other better, and I think these guys are going to help each other improve tremendously."