What Trinidad Chambliss' denied NCAA eligibility waiver means for Ole Miss, NFL Draft and more

Daniel Mader

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What Trinidad Chambliss' denied NCAA eligibility waiver means for Ole Miss, NFL Draft and more image

There were a few breakout names at quarterback during the 2025 college football season. Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy after entering Indiana’s season as a relative unknown to national fans, while Diego Pavia became a sensation at Vanderbilt with his two-way talents.

However, there may not have been a quarterback who set himself up for a bigger future — especially in the latter half of the season — than Trinidad Chambliss.

On Thursday, the Ole Miss Rebels quarterback’s spectacular season came to an end in the College Football Playoff semifinals, as his team fell 31-27 to the Miami Hurricanes. Now, Chambliss faces an uncertain future. He could wind up in April’s NFL Draft, or could he be back at Ole Miss next fall?

Here’s what to know about Chambliss’ future after becoming a star in the College Football Playoff.

MORE: Breaking down Trinidad Chambliss' NFL Draft projection

What's next for Trinidad Chambliss?

For now, it seems like Chambliss will not be able to return to college.

The quarterback had a deal in place to return to Ole Miss, per ESPN, but he needed an NCAA decision to see if he would be eligible to return. Chambliss filed a medical redshirt waiver for a sixth year of eligibility in November, citing his 2022  sophomore season at Ferris State, where medical documents reportedly showed he battled a respiratory issue.

According to ESPN, Chambliss recently said that process has been "a little frustrating" as he didn't receive a definitive answer on his request, although the NCAA gave a verbal denial for the waiver in December. Chambliss' lawyer,  Tom Mars, said in the letter to the NCAA that Chambliss would "suffer irreparable harm" if he's not granted the waiver, per ESPN.

"It's been more than seven weeks since Ole Miss provided the NCAA with all the information they needed to make a decision," Mars told ESPN. "If the NCAA believes its bylaws clearly required more than what was provided, or that the information wasn't sufficient to justify a waiver, one has to wonder why they still haven't made a decision."

On Friday, the NCAA officially denied Chambliss' waiver for a sixth year, which would end his college career. However, Ole Miss is expected to file an appeal, and Mars says the case can still be heard by Mississippi courts.

"I assume that Ole Miss will file an appeal with the NCAA," Mars said. "That said, 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."

In a statement, the NCAA explained that Chambliss did not have appropriate "medical documentation provided by a treating physician at the time of a student’s incapacitating injury or illness."

According to Ross Dellenger, Chambliss signed a deal worth $5 million annually at Ole Miss, so that would likely be the number that his team uses as damages in court.

On Sunday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Chambliss and his lawyers plan to file suit against the NCAA  in state court in Mississippi for a preliminary injunction, still aiming to secure Chambliss’ eligibility for 2026.

MORE: Where is Trinidad Chambliss from? More on the QB's Michigan roots

Trinidad Chambliss college eligibility

Trinidad Chambliss just finished his final collegiate eligibility when Ole Miss fell to Miami in the CFP. After taking a redshirt in 2021, he was on Ferris State's roster as a backup quarterback for a few seasons. In 2023, as a redshirt sophomore, he made one start and appeared in eight games, and in 2024, he led his team to a Division II national championship as the starter.

Chambliss requested a medical redshirt waiver to play a sixth collegiate season, but that waiver was denied by the NCAA. Per ESPN, Chambliss and his lawyers plan to file a lawsuit against the NCAA, attempting to reverse that decision and allow the quarterback to return to Ole Miss in 2026.

Trinidad Chambliss NFL Draft projection

Chambliss' performances in the CFP could completely alter how NFL teams view him. However, for now, NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus rankings projected Chambliss to be an undrafted free agent in the upcoming 2026 draft.

It wouldn't be surprising to see him continue rising up potential draft boards, however, as a majority of Chambliss' top performances have come within the last month of the season. In the CFP semifinals, he finished his 2025 season with 277 passing yards and one touchdown against a strong Miami defense.

How things shake out with Chambliss will depend first on his medical redshirt request at Ole Miss, then how NFL scouts view him in comparison to Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore and other quarterbacks who could be in the 2026 draft class.

MORE: Trinidad Chambliss' road from D-II afterthought to SEC star

Ole Miss QB options 2026

Ole Miss was hoping to head into 2026 with Chambliss back under center, and even though they're filing an appeal on the eligibility waiver denial, the school still has to prepare for life without surprising star. 

To do that, they'll have to look to the transfer portal. On3 is predicting that Ole Miss could look to a familiar SEC foe for a replacement. 

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