Ole Miss is at a crossroads. When Jaxson Dart declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, fans were skeptical. Despite a star QB in Dart, the Rebels failed to clinch a spot in the 12-team playoff. With his departure, Lane Kiffin already knew they had the perfect replacement. Austin Simmons had fans swooning over him after his 34-yard pass that sealed Ole Miss’ victory in the Gator Bowl. Are they in good hands then? Maybe. But it’s too early to say. 

Some insiders aren’t willing to bet 100% on their QB1. Locked on Ole Miss Steven Willis believes that Ole Miss can make a possible turnaround this season. But he didn’t say that without first adding his concerns, particularly surrounding the highly-touted Austin Simmons. In a new YouTube episode on February 17, he began with the Rebels’ 2025 roster. “The roster at Ole Miss is not as good as the one that was in 2024 obviously,” he said. “That’s not exactly breaking news but this roster is still probably a top three roster in the history of Ole Miss if the 2024 one was there.” With key players like Dart and WR Tre Harris leaving, this sets a concern for Austin Simmons.

As Steven Willis observes, it’s the “experience factor” that Ole Miss lacks in the QB room. “Whenever you’re bringing in a new quarterback in Austin Simmons, which everybody loves,” he began. “Everybody is so hyped out about Austin Simmons and what he can do with the quarterback position, but the experience just isn’t there, so there’s a little bit of an element of wait and see.” Simmons played minimal games in 2024 behind Dart, recording just 282 yards and two TDs. But his three 100% completion games made a case for him.

Travis May of A to Z Sports is solid on his expectations of Austin Simmons. “If he’s good enough, Simmons might just be the most important breakout player in the country,” he wrote. “His play could in fact decide the SEC Championship (he’s that special, despite the inexperience.)” And for this to happen, a lot is going to depend on Lane Kiffin’s strategy around the 19-year-old. “If Lane Kiffin can somehow come anywhere near replacing Jaxson Dart’s wildly impressive and efficient production with Austin Simmons, that could completely change the landscape of the SEC.” And if the right moves are pulled, their schedule is going to favor them not just in the SEC run but also make them a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. 

Ole Miss has a good chance to win with Austin Simmons 

Lane Kiffin has a strong chance for a breakout season, and their 2025 schedule is working in his favor. Though Steven Willis is wary about Austin Simmons’ lack of experience, his hope isn’t altogether extinguished. “If you look at their schedule, I can see them being favored in 11 games that they play,” he boldly declared. “I can, at a minimum 10. And if you win 10 games, you go to the college football playoff so this Ole Miss football team can absolutely make the playoff.”

It’s not for no reason that Ole Miss sits at No. 2 just behind Missouri as having the easiest schedule in the SEC this upcoming season. Opening against Georgia State, the Rebels face fairly easy opponents like Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tulane in September, except a possible tough game against LSU. But the second half of the schedule looks tougher with a road game against Georgia while facing South Carolina and Florida at home. The Egg Bowl against Mississippi State is another game to watch out for. 

Still, a 10-win season isn’t out of the question. Can Austin Simmons live up to the hype and carry Ole Miss to the playoff that slipped through Lane Kiffin’s grasp last season?