Joe Judge, Midnight Feedings, and the NCAA’s Latest Eligibility Circus
Joe Judge, the former Giants head coach now working as an assistant at Ole Miss, just gave us a courtroom quote that might go down in college football folklore. While testifying on behalf of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in an eligibility hearing, Judge offered a glimpse into the football-first mentality that’s long defined the sport - and raised more than a few eyebrows in the process.
“He needs to be in another room, detached… he ain’t waking up for midnight feedings.”
That was Judge’s explanation for why his quarterback needed to be fully locked in during the season, even if that meant skipping out on parenting duties. In his mind, Chambliss’s focus should be entirely on football - no distractions, not even a crying baby at 2 a.m.
Now, if you're a parent, you already know how that line lands. Try telling your partner you're "detached" and unavailable for diaper duty because you're watching film or prepping for a Saturday SEC showdown.
Let’s just say that’s not going to win you any points at home. But Judge wasn’t joking - he said it, under oath, in a courtroom, as part of a legal push to get Chambliss eligible to play.
And here’s the kicker: it worked.
A Mississippi judge granted the injunction, clearing the path for Chambliss to suit up for Ole Miss in 2026 - at least for now. That decision could still be challenged in a higher court, but unless that happens, Chambliss is officially back in the mix.
Welcome to the Wild West of NCAA eligibility.
The Chambliss case is just the latest example of how murky and inconsistent the NCAA’s eligibility rules have become. There’s no clear line anymore - and that’s a problem.
One player gets a waiver, another gets denied. One judge says yes, another says no.
And in between, schools are left scrambling, players are caught in limbo, and fans are trying to make sense of a system that seems to change by the week.
Take James Nnaji, for example. Drafted 31st overall, played professionally in Europe, and yet somehow finds himself eligible to play for Baylor.
On the flip side, Charles Bediako played college ball at Alabama, went undrafted, then suited up in the G League. He tried to return to the NCAA, got a temporary green light, and then had his season shut down by a judge’s ruling.
The inconsistency isn’t just frustrating - it’s destabilizing. What exactly are the rules now?
Is it about signing a pro contract? Hiring an agent?
Playing overseas? Or is it simply about who has the better legal team and a sympathetic judge?
Chambliss didn’t like the NCAA’s answer, so he sued - and won. That’s the precedent we’re dealing with now. The NCAA might still believe it can enforce rules, but the courtroom is proving to be a powerful equalizer.
Meanwhile, Joe Judge is out here saying quarterbacks shouldn’t be waking up for midnight feedings, and honestly, that might be the most football guy thing ever said in a court of law. It’s a quote that perfectly captures the collision between old-school football culture and the modern chaos of college sports.
So yes, Ole Miss gets its quarterback. And yes, Chambliss gets to play. But don’t expect him to be changing any diapers until the offseason.