Trinidad Chambliss Eyes Sugar Bowl, NCAA Waiver, and Possibly a Future Beyond Ole Miss
As Ole Miss gears up for its Sugar Bowl showdown against No. 3 Georgia, one name continues to command attention: Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels’ redshirt senior quarterback has been the steady hand behind their explosive season, and now, with the College Football Playoff quarterfinal looming, his story is just as compelling off the field as it is between the lines.
Chambliss has been a revelation in Oxford this year, tossing for 3,298 yards with 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He’s added another 506 yards and eight scores on the ground, showcasing the kind of dual-threat ability that gives defensive coordinators headaches. But what makes his journey even more remarkable is where it started - not in the SEC spotlight, but at Division II Ferris State.
From Ferris to the Sugar Bowl
Chambliss began his college career in 2021 at Ferris State, where he redshirted his freshman year. Over the next three seasons, he helped guide the Bulldogs to national prominence, including a third national title in four years in 2024. That performance caught the attention of Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who brought him to Ole Miss for what was supposed to be his final season of eligibility in 2025.
But now, Chambliss is trying to extend his college career one more year.
He’s filed for a medical redshirt waiver with the NCAA, seeking a sixth year of eligibility for the 2026 season. The basis of his request?
Persistent respiratory issues during the 2022 season that led to surgery to remove his tonsils. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the NCAA’s initial response wasn’t promising - the case manager wasn’t inclined to grant the waiver, citing a lack of contemporaneous medical documentation from that season.
Ole Miss was invited to submit additional information, and Chambliss has since enlisted attorney Tom Mars to help build his case.
Mars, known for his work in high-profile NCAA eligibility cases, believes the evidence is clear. “The NCAA is attempting to impose a higher burden of proof on a young man who is without any fault,” he told ESPN. “He’s satisfied all the requirements of the NCAA rules and has been an outstanding representative of college football - both on and off the field.”
What Happens Next?
The timing of all this is critical. The NCAA’s transfer portal window opens on January 2 and closes on January 16 - just one day after the Sugar Bowl.
If Ole Miss loses to Georgia, Chambliss could enter the portal immediately. But he can’t transfer anywhere unless the NCAA grants his waiver for 2026.
That’s where things get interesting.
Lane Kiffin, who left Ole Miss in late November to take the LSU job, was asked about Chambliss during Sugar Bowl media availability. Chambliss, for his part, said he hasn’t spoken to Kiffin since the move, citing NCAA rules around tampering. “I don’t think that’s even allowed right now,” he said.
Still, it’s hard to ignore the dots. Kiffin and Weis Jr. were the ones who unearthed Chambliss from DII and gave him a shot in the SEC. If Chambliss is granted another year and decides to leave Oxford, LSU would be a logical fit - a familiar system, familiar coaches, and a program looking to reload quickly under its new regime.
But Chambliss isn’t tipping his hand just yet. When asked about his future, he kept things close to the vest: “I’d have to consider what the best situation is for me.
What I feel most comfortable with. Who I trust the most.”
That trust factor could be key. Chambliss has already taken a nontraditional path - from a Michigan high school standout at Forest Hills Northern, to Ferris State, to the SEC. Now, at 23 years old, he’s navigating another twist in the road, trying to extend a college career that’s already been anything but conventional.
The NCAA’s decision could come at any time, but there’s no set timeline. What’s clear is that the clock is ticking. With the spring transfer portal window eliminated, this two-week stretch in January is the last chance for players like Chambliss to make a move and enroll in time for spring classes.
A Closer Look at the Waiver Rules
The NCAA typically allows five years to play four seasons, with one redshirt year included. A sixth year is only granted in special cases - usually for players who miss time due to serious medical issues or other circumstances beyond their control.
Chambliss’ case hinges on proving that his 2022 season was lost due to a life-threatening or incapacitating illness, as outlined in NCAA Bylaw 12.6.1.7.1. The key phrase: “situations clearly supported by contemporaneous medical documentation.” That’s where the NCAA is drawing the line, and where Chambliss and his legal team are pushing back, arguing that the bylaw doesn’t require the kind of detailed documentation the NCAA is demanding.
Other players have walked this path before. Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia secured a sixth year last season, though his case involved a court battle over NIL compensation. Florida State’s Thomas Castellanos applied for a similar waiver but was denied.
For Chambliss, it’s now a waiting game. But one thing’s for sure - whether he’s playing his final college game in the Sugar Bowl or setting up for one more run in 2026, his story is already one of the more unique and inspiring journeys in college football this season.
And if he gets that extra year? Don’t be surprised if he makes it count - again.