Jordan Rodgers didn’t leave much room for debate on Monday.
On ESPN’s SEC Now marathon broadcast from Day 1 of SEC Media Days in Tampa, the analyst made a bold case for Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, saying he believes Chambliss is the top signal-caller in the country.
“I think he’s the best quarterback in the entire country and I don’t think it’s that close,” Rodgers said. “There was no quarterback in the country who was more explosive while being efficient. He was top 15 in yards-per-attempt and also protected the ball at an elite rate - something you don’t expect from a guy coming from the FCS level.”
Chambliss is heading into a sixth year of college eligibility after successfully suing the NCAA, giving him the chance to play at Ole Miss in 2026. Rodgers pointed to what Chambliss already showed last season after taking over for the injured Austin Simmons in mid-September.
Chambliss came off the bench and helped push the Rebels all the way to the 2025-26 College Football Playoff. He finished the year with 3,937 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and just three interceptions as Ole Miss went 13-2 and reached the CFP semifinals.
Rodgers said he sees even more coming from Chambliss, and believes the quarterback’s situation is strong even with changes around him.
“I only expect him to get better,” Rodgers added. “And I mean that - even without (now-LSU coach Lane) Kiffin and (former Ole Miss offensive coordinator) Charlie Weis Jr. I think they reloaded around him.”
In Other News...
Texas Tech Defense Is Facing A New Big 12 Reality
The Big 12s defensive front picture for 2026 has a familiar feel at the top, with Texas Tech drawing attention for the kind of line play that can change a league race. The Red Raiders are being sized up against a conference that also includes BYUs sturdy front seven and a TCU group that has plenty of continuity of its own, but Techs case is built on the idea that its next wave of linemen can keep the pressure on offenses even as the league keeps loading up on skill talent.
The challenge, of course, is that the Red Raiders are no longer sneaking up on anyone. Opponents will spend the offseason studying how Texas Tech plans to replace a major presence up front, and the answer will say plenty about whether this defense can stay among the Big 12s best. There is talent, there is depth, and there is a real chance for the unit to remain a problem for quarterbacks, but the margin for error gets slimmer when the standard has already been set so high. [Read more 🡒]