The stage is massive. Trinidad Chambliss isn’t rattled. As the Ole Miss Rebels take the field tonight against the Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, their quarterback is steady, seasoned, and fully aware of what is at stake.
The pressure of a semifinal is unavoidable, but Chambliss insists the approach cannot change. Playing quarterback in the SEC, he noted, has already prepared him for moments like this.
“You can’t put extra pressure on yourself,” he said. “There’s already pressure playing at Ole Miss and playing in the SEC. You just take it one play at a time and let the chips fall where they may.”
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That mindset will be tested against a fast, physical Miami defense that thrives on disrupting rhythm. Chambliss keeps his focus internal, centered on timing, decision making, and trust.
“I have a timer in my head,” he said. “Knowing when to get rid of the ball, when to scramble, when to dump it to the checkdown. Execution is everything.”
The respect for Miami’s front is clear.
“They’re dudes. They’re studs,” Chambliss said. “You can tell how much they love football by the way they play. It’s going to be a great battle.”
Chambliss leans heavily on his postseason background from Ferris State, where playoff football demanded clarity and resolve.
“Playoff football is different,” he said. “Your season’s on the line. You do whatever it takes to win.”
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Even with uncertainty surrounding his eligibility waiver beyond this season, Chambliss has refused to let anything pull his attention from the present.
“It’s been frustrating,” he admitted. “But I can’t let that overtake my mindset. My focus right now is winning a football game.”
No matter what comes next, Chambliss knows exactly where he stands.
“Ole Miss is home,” he said. “And we want to be the team that’s happy at the end.”
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