Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss denied sixth year of eligibility

Talk about brutal timing.

One day after Ole Miss lost to Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Trinidad Chambliss’ waiver request for a sixth year of eligibility has been denied, according to multiple reports — though Yahoo Sports reported that the quarterback’s legal counsel has drafted a lawsuit and ESPN added that Ole Miss will appeal.

“However, there’s now an opportunity to move this case to a level playing field where Trinidad’s rights will be determined by the Mississippi judiciary instead of some bureaucrats in Indianapolis who couldn’t care less about the law or doing the right thing,” Chambliss’ attorney Tom Mars told the outlets in a statement. “Whether to pursue that course of action is a decision only Trinidad and his parents can make.”

The request, which received a verbal denial last month, was filed because Chambliss missed the 2022 season at Ferris State with “persistent respiratory issues,” according to ESPN.

That, then, effectively ends the 23-year-old’s collegiate career after four years at Division II Ferris State and a final year with the Rebels, where he blossomed under Lane Kiffin — before he bolted to LSU — and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., and reportedly planned to return for the 2026 season if his additional year of eligibility was granted.

In a way, the NCAA’s official ruling will force Chambliss to test just how much his recent postseason run with Ole Miss boosted his NFL stock.

He threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions, including 277 yards and a touchdown during the Rebels’ 31-27 Fiesta Bowl loss to the Hurricanes on Thursday.

In three CFP games against Tulane, Georgia and then Miami, Chambliss completed 67 percent of his passes for 985 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Chambliss connected with Dae’Quan Wright for a touchdown with just over three minutes remaining to take a 27-24 lead, but after Carson Beck drove the Hurricanes down the field and capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left, Chambliss’ final chance — which featured a controversial no-call on a Hail Mary — fell just short.

“This team has just sacrificed a lot to get to this point,” Chambliss said after the loss. “This season’s been bumpy and there’s been a lot of things going on, and we just kept our focus. It’s been truly special.”

And now, pending the result getting overturned with the lawsuit that will allegedly follow, any future games for Chambliss would take place on the NFL stage.

He’would join a quarterback class that’s expected to include Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore.