Trinidad Chambliss Eyes NCAA Waiver, Possible Reunion with Kiffin at LSU
NEW ORLEANS - Trinidad Chambliss isn’t just preparing for a College Football Playoff showdown - he’s also waiting on a ruling that could shape the next chapter of his college career. The Ole Miss quarterback has petitioned the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility, and if granted, it could open the door for a return to the field in 2026 - potentially in purple and gold under his former head coach, Lane Kiffin, now at LSU.
The 23-year-old Chambliss has taken an unconventional path through college football. After redshirting in 2021 and sitting out 2022 due to illness, he played backup snaps in 2023 before leading Ferris State to a Division II national title in 2024. Now in his third full season as a starter, he’s guided Ole Miss to a 12-1 record and a College Football Playoff berth, while ranking 15th nationally in passer efficiency.
“I feel like I deserve it,” Chambliss said Tuesday during Sugar Bowl Media Day. “I’ve only played three seasons of college football, and I feel like I deserve to play four.”
Let’s break that down. Chambliss redshirted in 2021, then missed all of 2022 due to health issues he says were significant enough to warrant a medical redshirt.
He played in eight games in 2023, then exploded in 2024 with 2,925 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, plus 1,019 rushing yards and 25 more scores - a dual-threat wrecking ball who powered Ferris State to a national title. In 2025, he’s been the engine behind Ole Miss’ Playoff run, throwing for 3,298 yards and 19 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
Chambliss’ eligibility case hinges largely on that 2022 season. He says he was sidelined by chronic tonsillitis, heart palpitations, and breathing issues, and he’s submitted medical records to the NCAA to support his claim. He eventually had his tonsils removed in 2024.
“We’ve been in communication with Ferris State, doctors and all that,” Chambliss said. “I had chronic tonsillitis. I also had heart palpitations and trouble breathing.”
The NCAA hasn’t issued a decision yet, and Chambliss has brought in high-profile sports attorney Tom Mars to help guide the process.
“He is the best,” Chambliss said of Mars. “Some of our coaches made us connect, and we felt like that was the best choice.”
The NCAA’s transfer portal window for the 2026 season opens on January 2 and closes January 16. Chambliss said he expects to hear back from the NCAA before that deadline.
“I would assume so,” he said. “The NCAA is actually closed right now. They open on Jan. 2, so hopefully we’ll hear something then.”
While Chambliss waits, the buzz around his potential next move is growing. LSU fans - and others - have been blowing up his phone and DMs.
“For sure, people text me,” Chambliss said. “They DM me, so yeah I definitely have heard from fans.”
A Familiar Fit at LSU?
If Chambliss does hit the portal, LSU would be a natural landing spot. Kiffin - who coached Chambliss through his breakout 2025 season - is now the head coach in Baton Rouge.
And he didn’t come alone. Six offensive assistants from Ole Miss followed him to LSU, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., co-OC Joe Cox, pass game coordinator George McDonald, and quarterbacks assistant Dane Stevens.
Weis Jr. has worked closely with Chambliss and knows exactly what he brings to the table.
“Number one is leadership - finding a guy who’s the right leader,” Weis said. “In the SEC, you’re going to be in some battles, so having a guy that the players want to play for and want to play with is extremely important to me. Those are some traits I’ve seen with Jackson [Dart] and with Trinidad.”
Weis also praised Chambliss’ football IQ and adaptability - crucial traits in a Kiffin-led offense that’s known for evolving around its quarterback.
“The cool thing about Coach [Kiffin] is he’s been able to mold the offense to the quarterback,” Weis said. “We’ve had tons of different styles of quarterbacks. It’s not a cookie-cutter system - it’s, ‘Who’s the best guy we have, and let’s build around him.’”
That flexibility has been a Kiffin trademark dating back to his Alabama days, when he adjusted the system from Jake Coker’s pro-style to Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat skill set. It’s the same blueprint that allowed Chambliss to thrive at Ole Miss in 2025.
And if the NCAA grants Chambliss that extra year? Don’t be surprised if he’s back in a familiar scheme, this time in Baton Rouge.
But first, there’s a Playoff game to win. Chambliss and No.
3 Ole Miss face No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night in the Superdome.
It’s a heavyweight matchup with title implications - and possibly, the final collegiate game for one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the country.
Unless, of course, the NCAA says otherwise.