Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is awaiting a decision from the NCAA regarding his pending waiver petition for a sixth season of eligibility. The committee is expected to reach a decision this week, according to CBS Sports. Chambliss should strongly consider declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Chambliss reached an agreement with Ole Miss to return in January. That means financial terms were agreed upon between the player and the program. The NCAA essentially controls Chambliss' fate.
In Chambliss' first season at Ole Miss, the former Division II quarterback led the Rebels to a historic 13-2 record. On the back of Chambliss' heroic effort, the Rebels defeated Tulane and Georgia in the College Football Playoff. They lost 31-27 to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl Semifinal, falling one touchdown short of reaching the National Championship.
The playmaking instincts of Trinidad Chambliss are ridiculous.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 2, 2026
This 3-play sequence sums it up. pic.twitter.com/scveD6uOFc
It represented a dreamlike campaign for Chambliss, who began the season on the bench. He replaced injured starter Austin Simmons in the third game and immediately ran away with the gig. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just three interceptions while completing 66.1% of his passing attempts. The dual-threat QB rushed for 527 yards and an additional eight scores. Chambliss finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.
The Sugar Bowl triumph over Georgia was Chambliss' crowning moment. He completed 30-of-46 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns throughout the upset victory. It was a performance that immediately improved his pre-draft stock, had Chambliss decided to forfeit his eligibility fight and declare.
It's been an incredible journey for Chambliss, who began his college career at Ferris State, where he helped the Bulldogs capture Division II National Championships in 2022 and 2024.
The NCAA appeals committee is scheduled to reconvene about Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility tomorrow. Decision could be fairly immediate but no deadline to when it comes.
— Chase Parham (@ChaseParham) February 3, 2026
Chambliss could be a real wild-card in the 2026 NFL Draft's quarterback class. It's largely viewed as a one-QB crop with Fernando Mendoza slated to go No. 1 overall. From there, it's within the realm of possibility that we go 31 consecutive picks without another quarterback selection to conclude the first round.
Alabama's Ty Simpson is largely seen as the second-best quarterback in the class. There's no guarantee he's a first-round pick. The inexperienced one-year starter saw his form dwindle down the stretch of the Crimson Tide's disappointing season.
LSU's Garrett Nussmeier is the other quarterback in contention to be a top-40 pick. After injuries and coaching uncertainty helped ruin his senior season, Nussmeier reminded NFL scouts of his potential at last week's Senior Bowl. He won the showcase and is firmly in QB2 contention.
Should Chambliss' waiver get denied and he's forced to enter the NFL Draft, he'll be in the QB2 conversation alongside Nussmeier and Simpson. The NIL era has simply changed the conversation on these things. Chambliss appears more interested in another campaign at Ole Miss. If he goes in the second or third round, his NIL agreement with Ole Miss would likely be more financially fruitful.
The NCAA's decision looms large. The 2026 NFL Draft's crop of quarterbacks would be stronger if Chambliss were included. Declaring for the draft should garner serious consideration, but it appears Chambliss would prefer to return to school.