NCAA delivers verdict on Trinidad Chambliss eligibility waiver

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss will need to continue his legal fight to secure college eligibility for the 2026 season after the NCAA appeals committee denied his request for relief.

According to a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the committee upheld the NCAA’s original denial of Chambliss’ waiver on Feb. 4. The ruling follows an initial rejection on Jan. 9 and keeps alive a lawsuit Chambliss filed against the NCAA earlier this month.

The case carries major financial implications. Chambliss’ agreement to return to Ole Miss is valued at more than $5 million, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, a figure that exceeds what he would likely earn as a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Chambliss sought a medical hardship waiver for the 2022 season at Ferris State, which he argued was significantly impacted by illness and respiratory issues. Those medical concerns were detailed in documents included in his 34-page lawsuit, filed in Chancery Court of Lafayette County, Mississippi.

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Represented by attorneys Tom Mars and William Liston, Chambliss is pursuing a temporary and preliminary injunction that would prevent the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility ruling. A hearing on the temporary injunction is scheduled for Feb. 12. He's also seeking a permanent injunction, a process that could stretch well into the future.

Any ruling against the NCAA could still be appealed to the Supreme Court of Mississippi.

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