How Trinidad Chambliss lawyers are making case to get Ole Miss QB another season
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The Fiesta Bowl might’ve been quarterback Trinidad Chambliss‘ final game with Ole Miss football.
But he’s trying to get an extra year of eligibility through an NCAA waiver and play in 2026.
Before the Rebels’ season ended with the 31-27 loss to Miami on Jan. 8 in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Ole Miss, Chambliss and his attorney had been working to get the waiver approved.
Yahoo Sports reported on Jan. 7 that Ole Miss made a filing to the NCAA arguing that there is sufficient evidence to grant Chambliss a medical waiver.
According to the report, attorney Tom Mars said the NCAA’s case manager told Ole Miss that there was “sufficient proof” that Chambliss was unable to play in 2022 at Division II Ferris State because of medical reasons.
Chambliss said on Dec. 30 that he suffered from “chronic tonsillitis” in 2022, and the reported filing argues the condition “was far more serious than just a simple case of tonsillitis.”
Chambliss needs a waiver because he is in his fifth season of college football. He spent the first four seasons at Ferris State, but did not play in any games in 2021 or 2022.
He announced on Jan. 5 that he’ll return to Ole Miss if the eligibility waiver is approved.
Mars was critical of the NCAA on social media in the days leading up to the Fiesta Bowl, especially with the transfer portal opening Jan. 2.
“Juries decide death penalty cases in less time than it takes the NCAA to decide whether to grant a waiver,” Mars posted on X on Jan. 6 “Ole Miss AD Keith Carter observes ‘this is a big deal about the life of a young man’ and the ‘right thing to do.’ Says again the NCAA’s decision ‘should be any day.'”
Juries decide death penalty cases in less time than it takes the NCAA to decide whether to grant a waiver. Ole Miss AD Keith Carter observes “this is a big deal about the life of a young man”and the “right thing to do.” Says again the NCAA’s decision “should be any day.” https://t.co/lBR5JCdryU
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) January 6, 2026
Chambliss began the 2025 as Ole Miss’ second-string quarterback behind Austin Simmons. An injury to Simmons in Week 2 put Chambliss in the starting role, which he never relinquished with Simmons healthy. Chambliss was 11-2 as Ole Miss’ starter and even placed eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Chambliss threw for 277 yards and one touchdown against Miami.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Trinidad Chambliss eligibility waiver, latest on Ole Miss football QB
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