While Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss faces scrutiny for his decision to return to school, LSU legend Tyrann Mathieu is stepping in. As some observers criticized the move as being financially motivated, Mathieu safeguarded Chambliss by revealing the real reason for his return.

“I don’t think his reasoning for wanting to come back to school is about, chasing broads,” said the LSU alum. “I think he legitimately just wants to maximize what he have, right? And one year at a big program is not enough for these kids. Especially when you spent three or four years at a lesser program.”

Chambliss caught a major break Thursday afternoon, Feb. 12, when Robert Whitwell of the Mississippi 18th District Chancery Court ruled in his favor, officially green-lighting a sixth year of eligibility for the 2026 season.

The primary argument against Chambliss’s return was that it was a business decision, with critics suggesting he could earn more from NIL deals than as a developmental NFL prospect.

But according to the latest reports, in the NFL, he already had solid draft stock. Coming off his lone season at Ole Miss, Chambliss put up loud numbers: 3,937 passing yards and 22 touchdowns across 15 games. From an NFL standpoint, teams don’t pay premium money just for college box-score juice. They pay for factors like elite arm talent and pocket poise, among others. 

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Unless a quarterback comes off as a clear early-round pick, NFL contracts are tightly slotted. Through that lens, Chambliss might have been a developmental option. PFSN analyst Ian Cummings predicted him to land as No. 65 overall by the Cleveland Browns. The fact that he left the NFL spotlight to return to college is what makes Mathieu’s developmental angle stronger. 

Staying in Mississippi allows Chambliss the stability that he must be looking forward to sharpening his skills. Plus, he will be able to test his talent going through the brutal schedule that includes matchups against LSU, Texas, Georgia, among others, something he was barred from doing while playing at Ferris State.

There are enough reasons to feel overwhelmed. However, Pete Golding has already spread out the safety net by returning star running back Kewan Lacy. 

“Plenty have asked why Chambliss, a legit NFL Draft prospect for 2026, fought the NCAA so hard for another year of college eligibility,” The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner wrote. “Part of the answer: because he’s good enough that he potentially could have been in the 2027 draft’s QB1 mix.”

That’s what Mathieu also argued. A majority of Chambliss’ college career was with a DII program. A sixth season in Ole Miss gives him something scouts value deeply: proof over time against top-tier competition. Now, what awaits him in Ole Miss for 2026?

Trinidad Chambliss is likely to grab the QB1 keys

Chambliss’ return has caught the buzz of him getting the starting quarterback role for 2026. Chambliss finished second in the SEC and 10th nationally in total offense at 298 yards per game, and ranked third in the SEC and 16th overall in pass efficiency. He made his resume bullet-proof by throwing just three picks, the second-fewest among all FBS quarterbacks with 400-plus attempts. 

A testament to Chambliss being the deserving candidate is that the other quarterback, Deuce Knight, who was seen as the starter had Chambliss not returned, gladly accepted his fate.

“Quarterback Deuce Knight happy about Chambliss return to Rebs,” reported Ole Miss 365’s sources.

The quarterback getting a second chance at Golding’s squad immediately pushed him into the Heisman discussion. Chambliss is already climbing up the board. As of Feb. 17, he sits second in the odds on BetOnline at +650, trailing only Arch Manning at +550.

So, the money-only argument doesn’t hold water. Chambliss returned to build a stronger resume against elite competition before making his move to the NFL.