Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has taken his fight for an additional year of eligibility to the courts, with his lawyers filing a lawsuit against the NCAA in Mississippi state court on Friday, January 16, 2026. The suit seeks injunctions that would allow Chambliss to play a sixth season for the Rebels after the NCAA denied his waiver request earlier this month.
The lawsuit was filed in the Chancery Court of Lafayette County, Mississippi, by attorneys Tom Mars and William Liston. It requests preliminary and permanent injunctions to overturn the NCAA’s decision, arguing that the governing body acted in bad faith and breached its contract with Ole Miss, of which Chambliss claims to be a beneficiary. This legal move comes after the NCAA denied Chambliss a waiver for a medical redshirt on January 9, ruling that insufficient medical evidence was provided to prove an “incapacitating injury or illness” during the 2022 season.
Chambliss, who transferred to Ole Miss after playing at Division II Ferris State, asserts that he missed the 2022 season due to persistent respiratory issues, including chronic tonsillitis and heart palpitations, which he attributes to post-COVID complications. His legal team submitted 91 pages of medical records, including statements from doctors and his former coach at Ferris State, who detailed how these health problems severely impacted his ability to train and play football.
In response, the NCAA stated that the documentation lacked a treating physician’s note from the time of the illness and that Ferris State had no records of medical treatment, citing “developmental needs and competitive circumstances” for his absence. Chambliss counters that the NCAA is interpreting its rules arbitrarily and ignoring comprehensive evidence, as outlined in the lawsuit.
During the 2025 college football season, Chambliss emerged as a star for Ole Miss, taking over as starting quarterback in the third game after an injury to Austin Simmons. He led the Rebels to a 13-2 record, a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, and threw for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns, while adding 527 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground. His performance earned him eighth place in Heisman Trophy voting and SEC Newcomer of the Year honors.
The legal case is notable because it is filed in state court rather than federal court, focusing on contract law and the NCAA’s duty of good faith, rather than challenging antitrust regulations. Attorney Tom Mars emphasized that the suit is not about overturning NCAA rules but ensuring they are applied fairly based on all available evidence.
If Chambliss is unsuccessful in securing another year of eligibility, he is expected to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, where analysts project him as a potential first-round pick. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how similar eligibility disputes are handled in the future, particularly regarding medical waivers and the NCAA’s decision-making processes.
The proceedings will now move forward in Mississippi court, with both sides preparing their arguments. This case highlights the ongoing tensions between college athletes and governing bodies over eligibility rules, especially in the era of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals and increased athlete advocacy.
