{"id":666192,"date":"2026-01-10T13:23:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T13:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/666192\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T13:23:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T13:23:18","slug":"ncaa-makes-eligibility-ruling-on-ole-miss-qb-trinidad-chambliss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/666192\/","title":{"rendered":"NCAA makes eligibility ruling on Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

In November,\u00a0Ole Miss<\/a>\u00a0quarterback\u00a0Trinidad Chambliss<\/a>\u00a0filed a waiver petition to receive a sixth year of eligibility. He transferred to Ole Miss ahead of the 2025 season after spending four years at Division II program\u00a0Ferris State.<\/p>\n

Following the Rebels\u2019 stellar 13-2 season and appearance in the College Football Playoff Semifinals, the ruling on Chambliss\u2019 eligibility has finally been handed down from the NCAA.<\/p>\n

The Grand Rapids native\u2019s waiver has officially been denied, dealing a massive blow to Pete Golding<\/a> and the Ole Miss Rebels. Chambliss will now head to the NFL Draft, where he sits at No. 4 on Mel Kiper Jr.\u2019s quarterback rankings. He is slotted behind Oregon<\/a>\u2018s Dante Moore<\/a>, Indiana<\/a>\u2018s Fernando Mendoza<\/a>, and Alabama<\/a>\u2018s Ty Simpson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NCAA statement on Trinidad Chambliss:<\/p>\n

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 an incapacitating illness or injury. Approval requires schools to submit\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) January 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Chambliss opened the season as Austin Simmons<\/a>\u2018 backup, but assumed starting duties once Simmons suffered an injury in the Rebels\u2019 30-23 victory over Kentucky on Sept. 6. Not only did Chambliss serviceably fill in for Simmons, but he evolved into one of the best quarterbacks in the sport. He passed for 3,937 yards and 22 touchdowns with just three interceptions this season, along with rushing for 527 yards and eight more scores.<\/p>\n

Ole Miss\u2018 starting quarterback passed for at least 300 yards in eight games and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting. He cemented himself as a program legend thanks to his performance in the Rebels\u2019 39-34 win over No. 3 Georgia<\/a> in the Sugar Bowl, where he pulled off multiple spectacular plays to clinch the historic victory.<\/p>\n

NCAA\u2019s Full Statement on Trinidad Chambliss:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn November, Ole Miss filed a waiver request for football student-athlete Trinidad Chambliss, seeking to extend his five-year Division I eligibility clock, citing an incapacitating illness or injury. Approval requires schools to submit medical documentation provided by a treating physician at the time of a student\u2019s incapacitating injury or illness, which was not provided. The documents provided by Ole Miss and the student\u2019s prior school include a physician\u2019s note from a December 2022 visit, which stated the student-athlete was \u201cdoing very well\u201d since he was seen in August 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdditionally, the student-athlete\u2019s prior school indicated it had no documentation on medical treatment, injury reports or medical conditions involving the student-athlete during that time frame and cited \u201cdevelopmental needs and our team\u2019s competitive circumstances\u201d as its reason the student-athlete did not play in the 2022-23 season. The waiver request was denied. This decision aligns with consistent application of NCAA rules. So far this academic year, the NCAA has received 784 clock extension requests (438 in football). Of those, 25 cases cited an incapacitating injury (nine in football). The NCAA approved 15 of those (six in football), and all 15 provided medical documentation from the time of the injury. Conversely, all 10 that were denied (three in football) did not provide the required medical documentation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo receive a clock extension, a student-athlete must have been denied two seasons of competition for reasons beyond the student\u2019s or school\u2019s control, and a \u201credshirt\u201d year can be used only once. One of the rules being cited publicly (Bylaw 12.6.4.2.2) is not the correct rule for the type of waiver requested by the school. Ole Miss applied for the waiver in November, and the NCAA first provided a verbal denial Dec. 8.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chambliss will now head off to the NFL, while Pete Golding and Ole Miss scramble to find a replacement at the position. Austin Simmons, who Chambliss replaced, announced his transfer to Missouri<\/a> on Jan. 6.<\/p>\n