Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss sues NCAA over eligibility denial
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Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after being denied eligibility for the sixth time.
According to multiple reports, Chambliss’ attorneys are seeking an injunction from a Mississippi arbitrator that would allow him to play another season in college.
The NCAA formally denied his request for a sixth year of eligibility on Jan. 9 because he and his team failed to provide evidence that he suffered a “bad injury or illness” while not playing at Division II Ferris State in 2022 due to respiratory issues.
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Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss warms up before his game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field on November 28, 2025. (Petre Thomas/Imagn Images)
“In November, Ole Miss filed a waiver request for football student-athlete Trinidad Chambliss seeking to extend five years of Division I eligibility by citing a disabling illness or injury. The approval requires schools to submit medical documentation provided by a treating physician at the time of the student’s disabling injury or illness, but this documentation was not provided,” the statement said.
“Documentation provided by Ole Miss and the student’s previous school includes a doctor’s note from a visit in December 2022. The note stated that the student-athlete had been in ‘very good condition’ since being seen in August 2022.”
“Additionally, the student-athlete’s previous school stated that there was no documentation regarding the student-athlete’s medical treatment, injury reports, or medical conditions during that time period and cited “developmental needs and our team’s competitive conditions” as the reason the student-athlete would not play in the 2022-23 season. The waiver request was denied.”
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Mississippi Rebels running back Kewan Lacy (5) celebrates with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) and wide receiver Deuce Alexander (11) after scoring a first-half touchdown against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field on Nov. 28, 2025. (Petre Thomas/Imagn Images)
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said the school would appeal the decision.
“We are disappointed with today’s announcement from the NCAA and plan to appeal the decision at the Committee level,” Carter said in a social media post that included the Trinidad and Tobago flag. “We will also continue to work with Trinidad’s representatives in other areas of support.”
Chambliss’s lawyer also made a statement that day, suggesting that the lawsuit could be filed.
“I understand Ole Miss will appeal to the NCAA. But now there is an opportunity to move this case to a level playing field where Trinidad’s rights will be determined by the Mississippi judiciary rather than some bureaucrats in Indianapolis who don’t care about the law or doing the right thing,” Tom Mars said.
“Whether or not to pursue this path is a decision only Trinidad and his family can make.”
Chambliss and his legal team will go to court in an attempt to keep him on the sidelines through the 2026 season.
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Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates his second-quarter touchdown pass against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinals at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Ariz. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The NCAA referenced its Jan. 9 statement when contacted by Fox News Digital to respond to the lawsuit.
Ole Miss advanced to the NCAA semifinals by losing to Miami 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8.
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