Trinidad Chambliss wins case amid NCAA lawyers ghosting the judge

The NCAA’s absence spoke almost as loudly as the judge’s ruling. 

On Thursday afternoon in a Mississippi courtroom, Trinidad Chambliss was granted a preliminary injunction that effectively awards him an extra year of eligibility, clearing the way for the Ole Miss quarterback to play in 2026. 

But as Judge Robert Whitwell prepared to deliver his decision, one detail stood out. The NCAA’s counsel had already left the courtroom and was not present for the final ruling. The hearing in Pittsboro, Miss. marked the culmination of a fight between Chambliss, Ole Miss officials and the NCAA over whether a medically sidelined 2022 season at Ferris State Bulldogs should count against his eligibility clock.

In 20+ years of law practice, I've never seen opposing counsel leave the court before the decision was rendered. That's bizarre. https://t.co/Z1Q8LQS0xF

Chambliss did not dress for a game that year, battling significant respiratory issues before undergoing a tonsillectomy. The NCAA denied his waiver request three separate times, including an initial application, an appeal and a reconsideration request submitted with additional medical documentation. 

The association maintained that he was not denied the opportunity to compete and therefore did not qualify for a medical hardship waiver.

Ole Miss officials sharply disagreed, arguing that the documented medical circumstances warranted approval at the staff level. After exhausting internal NCAA channels, Chambliss filed suit in Chancery Court, seeking both preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.

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The financial stakes are substantial. Chambliss’ return to Oxford is tied to a compensation package reportedly exceeding $5 million in name, image and likeness earnings. It's a figure that shows the shifting economic realities of college football.

The judge’s ruling allows Chambliss to take the field while the broader legal battle continues. However, the NCAA’s early exit added an unusual twist to a case that could carry significant implications for future eligibility disputes nationwide.

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