Ole Miss Rebels senior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has taken college football by storm in his first season with the team.
Chambliss began the year as a backup after transferring from Division II powerhouse Ferris State.
But when starting quarterback Austin Simmons went down with an ankle injury in the Week 2 win over the Kentucky Wildcats, Chambliss stepped into the role and did not give it back.
Chambliss threw for more than 300 yards in each of his first three starts. He has thrown for 3,660 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only three interceptions in his first 12 Division I starts.
His rise in popularity has left fans wondering if the fifth-year senior can return to Ole Miss for a second season.
Chambliss has already announced that he is committed to the Rebels, and if it were up to him, he would be playing in Oxford next season.
The only problem is that the NCAA has to clear his sixth-year eligibility request, and so far their answer is no.
“Chambliss, one of the breakout college football stars of 2026, filed a medical redshirt waiver for a sixth year of eligibility on Nov. 16,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel wrote. “He has yet to receive a definitive answer from the NCAA, although it gave a verbal denial for the waiver in December.”
Chambliss has signed a deal that ensures that Ole Miss is the only college football team he can play for next season.
The quarterback has lawyers involved and has provided 91 pages of medical records that he says prove that he was unable to play his sophomore season at Ferris State.
Chambliss In Legal Battle With NCAA
Chambliss is set to play in the biggest game of his life Thursday night in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 10 seed Miami.
As of the time of kickoff, the quarterback still does not know whether or not it could be his final time stepping on a college football field.
Chambliss’s lawyer is adamant that the NCAA must fulfill his client’s request.
“Chambliss’ lawyer, Tom Mars, mentioned in a letter to the NCAA on the quarterback’s behalf that his client would ‘suffer irreparable harm’ if he’s not granted the waiver,” Thamel wrote.
The NCAA told Mars that the 91 pages of medical documents provided were not sufficient and is currently “seeking contemporaneous notes” that elaborate on the care the quarterback received.
Chambliss says that the whole ordeal has been frustrating.
“It has been a little frustrating,” Chambliss told ESPN on Tuesday. “But I can’t let that overtake what my mindset is right now and that’s to win a football game and beat Miami. So I would say I’m a little frustrated, but I can’t let that take over me.”
In short: Chambliss would like to return to Ole Miss and has filed a waiver with the NCAA requesting to be granted a sixth year of eligibility thanks to an injury in his sophomore season at Ferris State. The NCAA has declined his request verbally, but Chambliss has gotten lawyers involved to overturn the ruling.
Is Trinidad Chambliss Able to Return for a 2nd Year at Ole Miss?