The NCAA has filed a motion with the Mississippi Supreme Court seeking to quickly overturn a trial court judge’s ruling that granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss an additional year of college sports eligibility.
In court documents filed Thursday, attorneys for the NCAA argued that court intervention in eligibility decisions threatens the organization’s ability to maintain fair competition. They emphasized that such rulings could undermine the NCAA’s authority to enforce uniform rules across collegiate sports.
The organization also highlighted the urgency of the matter, stating that if the case proceeds through the normal legal process, it might not be resolved before Ole Miss’s first game in September. They urged expedited review to prevent irreparable harm to the NCAA, Ole Miss, and Chambliss.
Chambliss led Ole Miss to its most successful season in 2025, finishing ranked No. 3 nationally. The NCAA argued that he had exhausted his five years of eligibility after transferring from Ferris State University, where he played for four seasons. However, Chambliss contended that his first two seasons at Ferris did not count against his eligibility due to medical redshirting and health issues.
After a hearing in Pittsboro on Feb. 12, Chancery Judge Robert Whitwell granted a temporary restraining order that blocked the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility decision. Whitwell ruled that the NCAA acted in bad faith in denying Chambliss’s appeal for an extra year. If the ruling stands, Chambliss is expected to start for Ole Miss when the season begins in September, and he remains a candidate for the Heisman Trophy after finishing eighth in 2025.
The NCAA maintains that Chambliss used up his eligibility after the four seasons at Ferris State and one at Ole Miss, which the organization says exceeds the allowed five-year limit. Chambliss, who transferred last spring, argued that his first two seasons at Ferris did not count due to medical redshirting and illness, and he testified that he was told the 2022 season would be considered a medical redshirt.
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
