Is Trinidad Chambliss going to LSU? Explaining waiver deadline for QB's 2026 transfer eligibility

Is Trinidad Chambliss going to LSU? Explaining waiver deadline for QB’s 2026 transfer eligibility originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels are set to face the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal on Thursday night. A big reason for Ole Miss’ success this season has been the play of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

So far, he has thrown for 3,298 yards with 19 touchdowns and three interceptions, adding 506 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Chambliss is a redshirt senior who began his career at Division II Ferris State, where he played from 2021 to 2024.

Currently, Chambliss is in his final season of NCAA eligibility in 2025. However, he has applied for a waiver with the NCAA to gain an additional year of eligibility for 2026.

Here’s a look at why Chambliss is requesting a waiver and where he could play next season if not at Ole Miss.

MORE:A look at Trinidad Chambliss’s background, including his high school career

Is Trinidad Chambliss going to LSU?

At this time, Chambliss cannot go anywhere unless he gets a waiver by the NCAA to play in 2026. At least publicly, Chambliss is focused on facing Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. During the game’s media availability, he was asked if he had talked to Lane Kiffin, who left Ole Miss to accept the LSU job in late November. Chambliss indicated that he has not, citing the NCAA’s no tampering policy: 

Trinidad Chambliss, here at Sugar Bowl media day, says he’s not communicated with Lane Kiffin and adds, “I don’t think that’s even allowed right now.” pic.twitter.com/6efNkjOsb6

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 30, 2025

If Chambliss does get additional eligibility to play elsewhere, him following Kiffin to LSU  would make a whole lot of sense. Kiffin, along with his offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., helped discover Chambliss from DII and brought him to Ole Miss. 

“I’d have to consider what the best situation is for me,” Chambliss told the Oxford media when asked about his future in late December. “What I feel most comfortable with. Who I trust the most.”

MORE: How Trinidad Chambliss went from D2 afterthought to SEC star

Why is Trinidad Chambliss requesting a waiver?

On Dec. 24, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Chambliss is requesting a medical redshirt for the 2022 season. That year, he dealt with persistent respiratory issues, which ultimately led to him having surgery to remove his tonsils. Via Thamel: 

The initial feedback from the NCAA’s case manager, delivered to Ole Miss on Dec. 8, indicated that the panel was not inclined to issue the waiver. It invited the school to submit additional information, as the committee wanted more contemporaneous medical documentation from 2022.

Mars argues in the letter that that specific data isn’t necessary as the bylaw for Chambliss’ request doesn’t require it.

It’s not uncommon for players to receive a sixth year for a medical redshirt when they’ve already taken a season as a traditional redshirt. In this case, it’s trickier because Chambliss switched schools and levels.

And now Ole Miss and Mars have to prove that Chambliss was “unable to participate in intercollegiate athletics as a result of a life-threatening or incapacitating injury or illness.”

The NCAA’s transfer portal window is set to open on Jan. 2, one day after Ole Miss’ game against Georgia. That means that if Ole Miss loses on Jan. 1, Chambliss will be able to enter the portal a day later. Per Thamel, Chambliss requested the waiver for an additional year on Nov. 17, and he enlisted attorney Tom Mars to help with his case on Dec. 17. 

“I’m baffled why this waiver wasn’t granted back in November just based on the irrefutable, objective evidence,” Mars told ESPN.

“The NCAA is attempting to impose a higher burden of proof on a young man who is without any fault, has satisfied all the requirements of the NCAA rules, and who’s been an outstanding representative of college football — both on and off the field.”

MORE:College Football Playoff picks for 2025 CFP quarterfinal games

How old is Trinidad Chambliss?

Chambliss is 23 years old, born Aug. 24, 2002. He grew up in Michigan, playing high school football at Forest Hills Northern in Grand Rapids. 

What year is Trinidad Chambliss?

Chambliss is a redshirt senior at Ole Miss. He took a redshirt in 2021 when he arrived at Ferris State, and finished his redshirt junior season with the Bulldogs in 2024. He helped lead Ferris State to its third national title in four seasons last year.

MORE:Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss exit showed the world exactly who he is

Trinidad Chambliss waiver deadline

The transfer portal window opens on Jan. 2, 2026 and goes through Jan. 16, so it is expected to be a frenzied two-week period. Thamel reported that there is no definitive timeline as to when a decision will be made. But if Chambliss wants to go elsewhere, he’ll need a decision by the NCAA on his waiver before Jan. 16. 

The NCAA did away with the spring transfer portal period, so this is the last chance for players to go elsewhere. The period was partially moved to January to allow players to enroll in spring classes in time.

MORE:

NCAA eligibility rules

The NCAA traditionally only allows players to play a maximum of five seasons, including one redshirt season.

But the NCAA has granted sixth years of eligibility to certain players, typically for hardships such as injuries or medical issues. Here’s how the NCAA Bylaws read regarding the specific rule Chambliss is trying to appeal to:  

12.6.1.7.1 Circumstances Beyond Control. Circumstances considered to be beyond the control of the student-athlete or the institution and do not cause a participation opportunity to be used shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (Adopted: 8/10/94, Revised: 10/12/95, 8/12/97, 1/9/06, 7/30/10, 7/31/14, 6/6/25 effective 7/1/25)

(a) Situations clearly supported by contemporaneous medical documentation, which states that a student-athlete is unable to participate in intercollegiate competition as a result of incapacitating physical or mental circumstances;

b) The student-athlete is unable to participate in intercollegiate athletics as a result of a life-threatening or incapacitating injury or illness suffered by a member of the student-athlete’s immediate family, which clearly is supported by contemporaneous medical documentation

We’ve seen other college football players get granted additional years of eligibility in recent years. Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia successfully did so last year. But Pavia’s situation was a bit different—he took the NCAA to court over NIL money and won. 

Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos applied for a sixth-year due to a medical hardship, but was denied by the NCAA. 

Source: Sports Yahoo