The Mississippi Supreme Court on Friday denied the NCAA’s petition to appeal a lower court ruling in favor of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, according to court documents.
The decision means the final obstacle has likely been removed for Chambliss to compete for the Rebels this season. He is considered one of the top candidates for the 2026 Heisman Trophy and played a key role in Ole Miss’s record-setting 13-win season and appearance in the national semifinals in 2025.
Chambliss’s legal battle began when he sought a medical waiver from the NCAA to extend his eligibility. He believed respiratory problems caused him to miss the 2022 season at Ferris State University, a Division II school, and that he was entitled to a redshirt. The NCAA denied his request, prompting him to sue the organization in Lafayette County Chancery Court.
Judge Robert Whitwell ruled in Chambliss’s favor in February, stating the NCAA acted in bad faith by denying his appeal. The organization appealed, but the Mississippi Supreme Court panel blocked the appeal Friday with a one-page order.
Chambliss, who transferred to Ole Miss in 2025 after leading Ferris State to a national championship in 2024, threw for 3,937 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 527 yards and eight touchdowns. The NCAA argued he used up his five-year eligibility limit after four seasons, but Chambliss contended his early seasons did not count due to health issues and redshirt status. The court’s decision affirms his eligibility to play this fall, pending any further appeals.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
