Trinidad Chambliss Granted Injunction to Play for Ole Miss in 2026

Ole Miss is set to continue its football program under the leadership of the coach who led them through a historic season.

On Thursday, a state judge ruled in favor of Trinidad Chambliss, allowing him to participate in the 2026 season after he filed a lawsuit against the NCAA regarding his eligibility for a sixth year. This decision came after the NCAA had denied his request on January 9, citing a lack of evidence to prove that he or his team had experienced a “disabling injury or illness” which had kept him from playing for Division II Ferris State in 2022 due to respiratory issues.

Chambliss’s appeal against the NCAA was rejected last week, but the litigation didn’t stop there. According to reports, the judge claimed the NCAA “acted with malice” in their efforts to prevent Chambliss from playing next season.

As it stands, Ole Miss is advancing its campaign towards the College Football Playoff championship, although they recently faced a nail-biting defeat of 31-27 against Miami during the Fiesta Bowl on January 8.

Interestingly, the Rebels’ postseason saga has been overshadowed by the coaching turmoil when Lane Kiffin chose to accept the head coach position at LSU. Athletic director Keith Carter made it clear that if Kiffin left, he wouldn’t coach the team in the playoffs, which evidently sparked a heated discussion between Kiffin and the players regarding how to handle the situation.

Yet, throughout the playoffs, several staff members, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., seemed to straddle the line between LSU and Ole Miss.

In a twist of events, the rivalry will create buzz as the Rebels gear up to meet the Tigers in Oxford for their matchup in Week 3.