NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has sued the NCAA after being denied a sixth year of eligibility.
Chambliss’ attorneys are asking a Mississippi judge for a preliminary injunction that would allow him to play another collegiate season, according to multiple reports.
The NCAA formally denied his request for a sixth year of eligibility on January 9, citing that he and his team were unable to prove he suffered a “disabling injury or illness” when he did not play in 2022 due to apparent respiratory problems.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss warms up before a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field on Nov. 28, 2025. (Petre Thomas/Imagn Images)
“In November, Ole Miss filed a waiver request for football student-athlete Trinidad Chambliss, seeking to extend his five-year Division I eligibility clock, citing a debilitating illness or injury. Approval requires schools to submit medical documentation provided by an attending physician at the time of a student’s incapacity,” the statement said, stating that the injury was disabling.
“The documents provided by Ole Miss and the student’s former school include a doctor’s letter from a December 2022 visit that stated the student-athlete was ‘doing very well’ since being seen in August 2022.
“Additionally, the student-athlete’s former school indicated that it had no documentation of medical treatment, injury reports or medical conditions involving the student-athlete during this time frame and cited ‘developmental needs and the competitive nature of our team’ as the reason the student-athlete did not play in the 2022-23 season. The waiver request was denied.”
TRUMP WARNS COLLEGE SPORTS IN ‘BIG TROUBLE’ IN CRYPTIC POST
Mississippi Rebels running back Kewan Lacy (5) celebrates with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) and wide receiver Deuce Alexander (11) after scoring a touchdown against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first half 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 ruling.
“We are disappointed by today’s announcement from the NCAA and plan to appeal the decision to the committee level,” Carter said in a social media post that included Trinidad and Tobago’s flag. “In addition, we will continue to work with Trinidad’s representatives on other avenues of support.”
Chambliss’ attorney also released a statement that day hinting that legal action could be coming.
“I understand that Ole Miss will file an appeal with the NCAA. But there is now an opportunity to move this case to a level playing field where Trinidad’s rights will be determined by the Mississippi judiciary instead of some bureaucrats in Indianapolis who couldn’t care less about the law or doing the right thing,” said Tom Mars.
“Whether they want to follow that course of action is a decision that only Trinidad and his parents can make.”
Chambliss and his legal team will go to court in an attempt to keep him on the field for the 2026 season.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during a 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Ariz. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The NCAA referred to its Jan. 9 statement when contacted by Pakinomist Digital for a response to the lawsuit.
Ole Miss came within a quarter of advancing to the NCAA semifinals, losing a 31-27 thriller to Miami in the Jan. 8 Fiesta Bowl.
