NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss’ Waiver for Sixth Year of Eligibility

Trinidad Chambliss’ college career ended the day after his 2025 season ended.

The NCAA denied the Mississippi quarterback’s petition for an additional season of eligibility, announcing its decision on Friday, January 9.

Chambliss requested a medical redshirt for the 2022 season while at Division II Ferris State, where he did not play any games due to persistent respiratory troubles that eventually led to the removal of his tonsils.

“Approval requires schools to submit medical documentation provided by a treating physician at the time of a student’s incapacitating injury or illness, which was not provided,” the NCAA said in a statement. “The documents provided by Ole Miss and the student’s prior school include a physician’s note from a December 2022 visit, which stated the student-athlete was ‘doing very well’ since he was seen in August 2022. Additionally, the student-athlete’s prior school indicated it had no documentation on medical treatment, injury reports or medical conditions involving the student-athlete during that time frame and cited “developmental needs and our team’s competitive circumstances” as its reason the student-athlete did not play in the 2022-23 season.”

The NCAA added its decision “aligns with consistent application of NCAA rules.”

Chambliss passed for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns, and three interceptions in his first and only season at Ole Miss, adding 527 yards and eight scores on the ground. He finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Chambliss helped lead the Rebels to one of their best seasons in program history, finishing 13-2 and advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they were defeated 31-27 by Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 8. Chambliss threw for 277 yards and one touchdown in the loss.

Tom Mars, a prominent sports attorney, defended Chambliss during the waiver process. Mars stated in a statement that he believes Ole Miss will file an appeal with the NCAA and that “there is 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 right thing.”

“I deserve (another year),” Chambliss said Dec. 30. “I’ve only played three seasons of college football. I feel like I deserve to play four. I redshirted in 2021. That was my freshman redshirt. Then I medically redshirted in 2022. Played in 2023, 2024 and this is 2025.”

Chambliss took a typical redshirt season during his true freshman year at Ferris State and did not play in the 2022 season.

This academic year, the NCAA received 25 requests for eligibility clock extensions citing an incapacitating injury, nine of which were from football players. The NCAA approved 15 of the 25 waiver requests, including six in football. All 15 successful applicants submitted medical proof from the time of the injury, but all 10 denied applicants did not.

Chambliss had previously committed to returning to Ole Miss for the 2026 season if his waiver was accepted, ending speculation that he would join former Rebels coach Lane Kiffin to LSU.

Without Chambliss, Ole Miss and new coach Pete Golding will most likely have to go elsewhere for a quarterback next season. Austin Simmons, who started the season ahead of Chambliss before being sidelined with an injury, went through the transfer portal and signed with Missouri this week.

What is Trinidad Chambliss’s NFL draft projection?

Chambliss is expected to make his NFL debut. Experts predict he will be draughted in the middle of the 2026 NFL Draft.Mel Kiper of ESPN ranks Chambliss as the sixth best quarterback prospect in his 2026 NFL Draft preview, which was published on January 2.

Chambliss is ranked fifth among quarterbacks by Pro Football Focus and 83rd overall.