Trinidad Chambliss Wins Injunction, Cleared to Return to Ole Miss in 2026
Trinidad Chambliss is officially back - at least for now.
A Mississippi judge granted the Ole Miss quarterback’s request for a preliminary injunction, clearing the way for him to return for another season while his legal battle with the NCAA plays out. The ruling, handed down by Chancery Judge Robert Whitwell in Calhoun County, temporarily blocks the NCAA from enforcing its denial of Chambliss’ sixth year of eligibility.
The NCAA can still appeal the decision, but for now, Chambliss is eligible - and that’s a massive development for a Rebels program that’s eyeing another run at the College Football Playoff.
Chambliss was at the heart of Ole Miss’ rise last season, guiding the Rebels to the CFP semifinals and a No. 3 national finish. His return instantly vaults them into the conversation as SEC contenders and potential playoff favorites in 2026.
The Legal Fight Behind the Return
Chambliss’ case is rooted in a denied waiver request. The NCAA turned him down for a sixth year of eligibility on January 9 - just one day after Ole Miss fell to Miami in the playoff. That decision sparked a lawsuit from Chambliss, who argued he deserved a medical hardship waiver for one of the two seasons he missed early in his career at Ferris State due to respiratory issues tied to chronic tonsillitis.
He didn’t play in either of his first two years at Ferris State, but NCAA rules only allow for one redshirt season unless a player qualifies for a medical hardship. Chambliss says he believed one of those years had already been counted as a medical redshirt when he transferred to Ole Miss.
The NCAA didn’t see it that way. The waiver was denied, and a subsequent appeal was also rejected by the NCAA’s Academics and Eligibility Committee. Chambliss and his attorneys responded by taking the fight to court, arguing that the NCAA’s process was unfair and that forcing him into the NFL Draft would cost him millions in potential earnings.
At Thursday’s hearing, Chambliss testified that he couldn’t finalize a revenue-sharing deal with Ole Miss until his eligibility was confirmed. He also mentioned - without naming specific brands - that a return to college football would open the door to new sponsorship deals, similar to the one he had last year with AT&T.
His legal team made the case that the damage of being forced into the draft - where he’s not projected as an early-round pick - would be irreparable. And the judge agreed.
What This Means for Ole Miss
This is more than just a win for Chambliss - it’s a game-changer for the Rebels.
Chambliss was electric last season after taking over for injured starter Austin Simmons three games into the year. He threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, becoming one of the most efficient and poised quarterbacks in the SEC.
At 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, he doesn’t fit the mold of a prototypical NFL QB, but in college football? He’s a star.
And he’s about to be one of the highest-paid players in the sport. While the exact numbers haven’t been made public, sources familiar with his new agreement say Chambliss is expected to earn between $5 million and $6 million in total compensation through NIL deals and revenue-sharing payments. That puts him in elite territory - not just as a quarterback, but as a brand.
He’s also likely to enter the 2026 season as a Heisman Trophy contender.
The Bigger Picture: NCAA Eligibility Rules Under Fire
Chambliss isn’t alone in challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia took a similar path last year, suing the NCAA after being denied an extra year of eligibility due to seasons spent in junior college. A federal judge in Tennessee granted Pavia an injunction, and he went on to lead Vanderbilt to a 10-3 record and a Heisman runner-up finish in 2025.
But Chambliss’ case is different. He’s already spent five years at NCAA schools, and the NCAA argues that there’s no contemporaneous medical documentation from Ferris State supporting his claim of illness in 2021 and 2022. Without that, the association said, he didn’t meet the criteria for a medical hardship waiver.
Chambliss, however, described those early years at Ferris State as a constant struggle with illness - sleep apnea, fatigue, lingering colds, and general respiratory issues that kept him off the field. Ole Miss assistant coach Joe Judge, who previously coached the New York Giants, testified during the hearing about how teams manage sleep disorders in players.
The judge ultimately sided with Chambliss, at least for now.
A Shifting Legal Landscape
Chambliss’ case is part of a growing trend of athletes turning to the courts to challenge NCAA eligibility decisions - and finding more success at the state level than in federal court. Former Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako was briefly allowed to return to the Crimson Tide after a judge granted a temporary restraining order, though a preliminary injunction was later denied, ending his comeback.
Now, all eyes turn to Tennessee, where the NCAA is back in court on Friday. This time, it’s Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar seeking an extra year of eligibility after being ruled ineligible. Like Chambliss and Pavia before him, Aguilar is hoping the courts will give him another shot.
As for Chambliss, the legal battle isn’t over. But for now, he’s back in the huddle - and Ole Miss just got a whole lot more dangerous heading into 2026.