Ole Miss QB battle: Lane Kiffin pressed on who will start between Austin Simmons, Trinidad Chambliss

Ole Miss‘ picture perfect start to the 2025 season continued Saturday night as it absolutely dominated Tulane 45-10 in Oxford to improve to 4-0. The Green Wave, tabbed as one of the favorites to earn the GO5 bid in the College Football Playoff this season, were absolutely no match for Lane Kiffin and his Rebels.

Quarterback play has been one of the many bright spots for the team through four games, coming from two different arms. Sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons originally won the job out camp and passed for 576 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions through two games, but was injured in the fourth quarter against Kentucky and was replaced by senior Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss.

Chambliss has been unbelievable for Kiffin’s offense following his insertion into the gameplan, as he’s passed for 660 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions over the past two games. He’s been a menace on the ground as well, totaling 174 yards and two more scores.

Following Saturday’s blowout win, Kiffin was asked who Ole Miss‘ starting quarterback would be going forward. Having two quality arms is a great problem to have, which means that the Rebels’ head coach isn’t worried at all.

Lane Kiffin is high on both Chambliss and Simmons

“Yeah I don’t know that,” Kiffin said. “Like I said, Trinidad played really well and Austin was playing really well before he got hurt. I don’t know where Austin will be exactly because he was available but he wasn’t 100%. But he would’ve gone in today if we needed him and that says a lot about Austin too. He got himself ready to play this week.”

It doesn’t seem to matter who is playing quarterback for Ole Miss, because it is succeeding no matter what. Through four games, Simmons and Chambliss have combined for 1,299 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns and four interceptions. If they combined into one quarterback, they would be near the top of the sport in total passing yards.

“I’m not saying he’s Russell Wilson, don’t get me wrong, but there’s some similarities in that kind of in the it factor and how he moves and holds himself, you know, that I’ve kind of said that since he’s gotten here,” Kiffin said about Chambliss earlier this week. It’s safe to say that Kiffin is very high on his quarterback room, no matter who it is taking snaps.

The Rebels will now head into a monster SEC battle against No. 3 LSU next weekend. Ole Miss is looking to win a game against a top-five ranked opponent for the second consecutive season (No. 3 Georgia in 2024).