NCAA Denies Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss a 6th Year of Eligibility

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss saw his season end on Thursday night, and on Friday, potentially his college career. The NCAA formally rejected a request for a sixth year of eligibility, with which he would have been able to return to the Rebels as their starting QB once more.

Instead, Chambliss has two options in front of him. Ole Miss can still appeal the NCAA's ruling in an attempt to retain Chambliss and have him play out the deal he had agreed to for 2026 that was pending NCAA granting additional eligibility, or Chambliss can enter the NFL Draft to continue his football career in the pros, instead. Given the NCAA's reasoning for their refusal to grant the additional year of eligibility, an appeal doesn't guarantee any kind of success. 

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said his school will appeal the ruling.

"We are disappointed with today's announcement by the NCAA and plan to appeal the decision to the Committee level," Carter said in a social media post, in which he included the flag of Trinidad and Tobago. "Additionally, we will continue to work in conjunction with Trinidad's representatives in other avenues of support."

Tom Mars, who is an attorney for Chambliss, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the NCAA's decision. "The last time I checked, however, the only score that matters is the one at the end of the fourth quarter," Mars said.

"I understand that Ole Miss will file an appeal with the NCAA. However, there’s 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," Mars said. "Whether to pursue that