Trinidad Chambliss’ fight for eligibility kept the college football world on its toes. Just two weeks back, the filings criticized the waiver process. And now, Chambliss sees a green light. The court hearing in Mississippi brought positive news. 

“The Mississippi judge is ruling in favor of Trinidad, granting him an injunction in his case vs the NCAA,” reported Locked on SEC host Chris Gordy. “Trinidad Chambliss will be Ole Miss’ starting QB in 2026.”

Judge Robert Whitwell wasted little time after the hearing concluded on February 12, granting Chambliss’s request for a preliminary injunction by the end of the day and delivering a sharp rebuke to the NCAA in the process. 

“They simply didn’t do anything,” he said. “The NCAA provided no medical objection or opinion.”

During closing arguments, Chambliss’ legal team claimed the NCAA broke its promise of fair dealing by brushing aside medical records and Chambliss’s tonsillitis diagnosis. Chambliss’ case got stronger with Whitwell uncovering the NCAA’s actions. The Ole Miss quarterback sought a medical hardship waiver for the 2022 season. According to Chambliss’ team, the quarterback missed the season as he suffered from complications related to tonsillitis and chronic fatigue.

After a redshirt year in 2021, he took the field every season from 2022 through 2024 at Division II Ferris State. Hitting the portal and transferring to Ole Miss, he even won the starting role at quarterback in 2025.

According to the latest update, the NCAA can no longer prevent the quarterback from playing. However, there is a catch. The Ole Miss quarterback getting another year of eligibility does not mean he “won” his case. Rather, the decision grants him temporary NCAA eligibility while the case moves forward. The timing is likely to favor Chambliss, as the case is expected to be heard after the 2026 season concludes. 

The Ole Miss quarterback’s situation reminds us of the Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. He took the NCAA to court, arguing that his junior college seasons should not count against his eligibility at the FBS level. He was handed a temporary injunction, and by the time the case was actually heard, the quarterback had played the 2025 season. 

With Chambliss returning, Ole Miss rolls into the season with maybe one of the most dangerous quarterbacks. With Chambliss back in the fold, Ole Miss fields a quarterback who could challenge for the title of best in the SEC. His return immediately changes the outlook for Pete Golding’s debut season.

The ruling immediately elevates Ole Miss’s prospects for the 2026 season, a sentiment echoed by college football analysts like On3’s J.D. Pickell.

Ole Miss’s 2026 prospects with Trinidad Chambliss’s return

Chambliss has been clear that if he wins the case against the NCAA, he will be returning to Ole Miss. With that in mind, he did not declare for the NFL draft. Since he hadn’t declared for the draft, Chambliss was not invited to the NFL Combine. 

While the Rebels are safe from losing Chambliss to the pro league, Golding can already expect a grand season. On3’s J.D. Pickell of On3 agrees with that assessment. 

“They’re definitely challenging for Atlanta,” said the analyst. “The thing with Trinidad, last year in the playoff game, is like, he just took over that game against Georgia. It was, ‘We have Trinidad Chambliss, you don’t. Therefore, we’re gonna win.’ So, like, how repeatable is that with Kewan Lacy in the backfield? You would like to think that is also gonna help them a good amount during the regular season.”

In 2025, Kewan Lacy stacked 24 rushing scores, tying the SEC’s third-best mark all-time. He cracked the national top-10 in rushing yards and snagged first-team All-SEC as a sophomore.