The NCAA denied Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ request for an eligibility waiver on Friday, but his camp certainly does not appear finished trying to get him a sixth year of NCAA eligibility.
Chambliss had sought a medical redshirt for his sophomore season at Ferris State, arguing that he was suffering from a respiratory illness at the time. The NCAA denied the request largely because no contemporaneous evidence had been provided to suggest that had been the case at the time.
Tom Mars, Chambliss’ legal counsel, strongly implied that he would be taking the NCAA to court over the decision.
“There’s now an opportunity to move this case to a level playing field where Trinidad’s rights will be determined by the Mississippi judiciary instead of some bureaucrats in Indianapolis who couldn’t care less about the law or doing the write thing,” Mars said in a statement. “Whether to pursue that course of action is a decision only Trinidad and his parents can make.”
Statement from Tom Mars. Legal action appears imminent. https://t.co/kS2hdxvrfT pic.twitter.com/UDMtZf4gFw
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 9, 2026
For now, the NCAA’s decision means Chambliss has played the last college game of his career. If he can get it overturned in court, he has a chance to return to Ole Miss for the 2026 season.
Chambliss was a breakout star in 2025, throwing for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns to go along with eight rushing scores. Ole Miss was very aggressive in trying to land him, and have been just as determined to keep him for one more year. At this point, though, that outcome appears to be out of their hands.
