Judge rules Trinidad Chambliss eligible to play another year at Ole Miss

PITTSBORO, Miss. (WLBT) - It’s official. Trinidad Chambliss was granted an extra year of eligibility by State Court Judge Robert Whitwell, who issued an injunction, making him eligible and securing a spot back on the Ole Miss Rebels for the 2026 season.

In a ruling that lasted well over an hour Thursday evening, Judge Whitwell ruled that Chambliss met the requirements to receive a medical redshirt for a sixth season of college football.

In his ruling, he detailed that the NCAA ignored clear and adequate medical evidence in denying Chambliss’ initial waivers and that the quarterback would suffer irreparable harm if denied another year of eligibility, and concluded that the NCAA did not act in “good faith” in denying the waiver.

Chambliss’ case stems back to his 2022 season at Ferris State, when he did not play a snap due to the medical issues he was facing with tonsillitis, mono, and sleep apnea.

On Thursday, Chambliss’ attorneys brought forward 4 witnesses, starting with Dr. Ford Dye, a board-certified otolaryngologist who testified that someone dealing with those illnesses would not be able to train at the “highest level.”

We also heard from Ole Miss Quarterbacks Coach Joe Judge, Cheryl Chambliss, Trinidad’s mother, and Trinidad himself.

The judge spoke on the importance of sleep, which Chambliss struggled with in 2022 due to his sleep apnea.

The NCAA’s legal team argued that the NCAA did not deny Chambliss’ waiver requests in “bad faith” and strictly followed the NCAA’s bylaws in student-athlete eligibility.

They also stated in their closing arguments that Chambliss’ lawsuit did not provide sufficient evidence for the waiver and the courts should not ultimately make a decision on eligibility, which they say would change college sports forever.

Ultimately, Judge Whitwell did not agree, ruling in Chambliss’ favor, securing his eligibility for next season.

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