Trinidad Chambliss returning to Ole Miss in 2026 — if NCAA eligibility waiver is approved
Chambliss enrolled at Ferris State in 2021 but did not play in either of his first two seasons with the Division II powerhouse.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has agreed to a new deal to remain with the Rebels for one more season if the NCAA approves his request for an additional year of college eligibility, a person briefed on the decision told The Athletic on Monday.
Chambliss and the sixth-seeded Rebels are preparing to the play No. 10 seed Miami in College Football Playoff semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.
Ole Miss is hoping to receive a ruling on the waiver request it has submitted for Chambliss before the game, but Tuesday passed with no word from the NCAA.
Home 🏡❤️ pic.twitter.com/VC2KcpjhwB
— Trinidad Chambliss (@TrinidadChambl1) January 6, 2026
Attorney Tom Mars, who is representing Chambliss with the eligibility case, told The Athletic on Tuesday that an NCAA staff member informed Ole Miss officials on Dec. 8 that the committee that handles waiver requests was leaning against granting this one.
Mars, who has handled NCAA eligibility waiver cases for numerous athletes, downplayed the significance of that communication.
“It’s really not uncommon for them to communicate early on which way they are leaning,” Mars said. “Based on my experience, that doesn’t really correlate with the final decision.”
Chambliss, the former Division II standout at Ferris State, took over as Ole Miss’ starter three games into the year and has led the Rebels (13-1) to one of the greatest seasons in program history. There was some speculation that he might follow former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin to LSU as a transfer after this season, but he agreed to a name, image and likeness deal that should have him back in Oxford in 2026 — if he is eligible.
Chambliss’ rise with the Rebels has been one of the most compelling stories of the college football season. The D-II national champion turned SEC star has already cashed in on the newfound fame, with a television commercial that debuted in December playing off transfer portal uncertainty.
Chambliss, who enrolled at Ferris State in 2021 but did not play in either of his first two seasons with the Division II powerhouse, has asked the NCAA to grant him an additional year of eligibility, claiming he meets the requirements for a medical redshirt for one of the seasons he sat out. Chambliss played 25 games in four years at Ferris State, taking over as the starter in 2023 and leading the school to a national title in 2024. He began this season as the backup to Austin Simmons, who injured his left ankle in Ole Miss’ second game. Simmons plans to transfer after the Rebels’ Playoff run and committed to Missouri this week.