Ole Miss braces for the one Trinidad Chambliss verdict that will define 2026 season

Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The one question that made every Ole Miss fan anxious for the 2026 season is in motion. The answer will either fire up or altogether extinguish the Rebels' 2026 campaign.

Thursday brought the one waiver application that the Grove has been anxiously waiting for: QB Trinidad Chambliss seeking a sixth year.

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Trinidad Chambliss could get a sixth year

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Chambliss "is seeking a medical redshirt for a sixth year."

Chambliss' fifth-year with the Rebels brought him all the fame he deserves and more, so him signing up for a waiver would be the only thing Pete Golding could ask for in the 2026 season.

"Ole Miss filed a waiver petition for Chambliss to receive a sixth year of eligibility Nov. 16, and a decision will ultimately be made by the NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement," Thamel wrote.

However, the actual, highly-awaited 'yes' might take some time still.

"There were indications early this month that the NCAA needed more information for the waiver to be granted. There's no definitive timeline on when a decision will be made."

"The waiver itself -- like many NCAA eligibility issues -- is complex. But the gist is that Chambliss is asking for a medical redshirt for the 2022 season when he was at Ferris State. (He took a traditional redshirt season during his true freshman year there in 2021.)"

"Chambliss did not play any games in 2022. He is seeking the medical redshirt for that season as he dealt with persistent respiratory issues that ultimately led to surgery to remove his tonsils."

With the waiver will come an undeniable headache of Chambliss transferring to another program with the transfer portal opening in early January.

That is an impending can of worms that Ole Miss will have to face much sooner than expected.

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