Ole Miss QB Chambliss Sues NCAA for Extra Year of Play

Lawyers for Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Friday in Lafayette County Chancery Court in Mississippi. They asked for a preliminary injunction to give Chambliss a sixth year of eligibility so he can play for the Rebels in 2026. The NCAA denied his waiver request on January 9, saying there was not enough medical proof from 2022 when he sat out at Ferris State due to health problems.

Background

Trinidad Chambliss transferred to Ole Miss from Division II Ferris State before the 2025 season. He took over as starting quarterback in the third game after Austin Simmons got hurt. Chambliss threw for 3,927 yards and 22 touchdowns with just three interceptions that year. He also ran for 527 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers helped Ole Miss finish sixth in the country and reach the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Rebels lost 31-27 to Miami in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 8.

Chambliss finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors. At Ferris State, he redshirted his first year. In 2022, as a sophomore, he did not play. His team said it was due to development needs and team competition. Chambliss said respiratory issues kept him out. He dealt with throat infections, poor sleep, fatigue, and breathing trouble during workouts.

Ole Miss filed a waiver request in November for an extra year. They wanted to extend his five-year Division I clock because of the missed 2022 season. The NCAA turned it down. They said Ole Miss and Ferris State did not provide medical records from a doctor who treated him at the time. A note from December 2022 said he was doing well after an August visit. Ferris State had no records of treatment or injuries that year.

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said the school would appeal to the NCAA committee. He posted on social media that they were disappointed and would support Chambliss through other steps.

Key Details

The lawsuit names attorneys Tom Mars and William Liston. Liston helps run The Grove Collective, which supports Ole Miss athletes. Mars said earlier they sent 91 pages of medical records to the NCAA. The suit claims the NCAA broke its contract with Ole Miss in bad faith. Chambliss says he benefits from that contract. It accuses the NCAA of ignoring evidence, adding rules not in the book, and making arbitrary decisions.

A letter from Chambliss's doctor lists his 2022-23 symptoms: recurrent throat infections, bad sleep, daytime tiredness, and airway issues during exercise. Brett Knight, Ferris State's assistant athletic director for sports medicine, wrote that illnesses stopped Chambliss from training, conditioning, or practicing consistently.

Ferris State coach Tony Annese said Chambliss had post-COVID problems like heart palpitations and chest pains. He also had chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis that hurt his breathing, sleep, and fitness.

"In Trinidad's case, the NCAA failed in its mission to foster his well-being and development as a student-athlete," the lawsuit states.

Chambliss has a deal to return to Ole Miss in 2026 under new coach Pete Golding. It could be worth up to $6 million with incentives. The suit seeks permanent relief too, so he can play four full years of Division I football.

NCAA's Position

The NCAA requires proof of an incapacitating injury or illness from the time it happened. They look at medical documents from a treating physician then. Ferris State's reasons for not playing him focused on team needs, not health. The NCAA stuck to those points in denying the waiver.

What This Means

If Chambliss loses, he goes to the NFL Draft this spring. Scouts rank him as the No. 3 quarterback prospect. He trails Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Alabama's Ty Simpson. Ole Miss signed Deuce Knight, a former Auburn recruit, as backup. Knight would start in 2026 without Chambliss.

A win keeps Chambliss with the Rebels. It tests NCAA waiver rules in state court, not federal. Mars said they are not challenging the rules themselves. They want the NCAA to follow its own policies on all evidence and circumstances.

Ole Miss wants Chambliss back. He led them deep into playoffs. His return could boost their chances next year. The court will decide on the injunction soon. That could let him practice and play while the full case goes on. The NCAA has not commented beyond its January 9 statement.

Chambliss grew up in Trinidad and Tobago. He moved to the U.S. for college ball. At Ole Miss, he became a star fast. Fans see him as key to more success. The suit puts his future in a judge's hands. It also spotlights how NCAA handles extra eligibility for transfers with health issues.

Lawyers argue the NCAA must look at the full picture. They say isolated views miss the point. Ferris State staff backed Chambliss's health claims in letters. The case could set a path for others seeking waivers. For now, Chambliss waits. His college days hang on the court's call.