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Trinidad Chambliss files lawsuit against NCAA over eligibility
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- Trinidad Chambliss files lawsuit against NCAA over eligibility
Mississippi football quarterback Trinidad Chambliss' legal team filed a suit against the NCAA in a Mississippi court on Friday, Jan. 16 as the QB seeks an extra year of eligibility.
According to multiple reports, Chambliss and his legal team filed in the Chancery Court of Lafayette County on Jan. 16. He is being represented by Tom Mars and Mississippi attorney William Liston, according to the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network.
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The lawsuit from Chambliss comes after the NCAA's "bad-father, unreasonable" decision to deny an initial waiver for an additional year of eligibility for the 2026 college football season.
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Chambliss has been asking for a medical redshirt for the 2022 season, when he was playing at Division II Ferris State . That season, Chambliss didn't play any games as he was dealing with persistent respiratory issues that ultimately led to the removal of his tonsils.
"I deserve (another year)," Chambliss said Dec. 30 during a CFP media availability ahead of the Sugar Bowl. "I've only played three seasons of college football. I feel like I deserve to play four. I redshirted in 2021. That was my freshman redshirt. Then I medically redshirted in 2022. Played in 2023, 2024 and this is 2025."
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He added: "I had chronic tonsillitis. I also had heart palpitations and trouble breathing. My respiratory system just wasn't the best at the time."
The NCAA denied Chambliss' initial waiver on Jan. 9 . The Rebels filed an appeal on the NCAA's decision three days later on Monday, Jan. 13.
"Approval requires schools to submit medical documentation provided by a treating physician at the time of a student's incapacitating injury or illness, which was not provided. The documents provided by Ole Miss and the student's prior school include a physician's note from a December 2022 visit, which stated the student-athlete was 'doing very well' since he was seen in August 2022," the NCAA wrote in its statement on Jan. 9.
"Additionally, the student-athlete's prior school indicated it had no documentation on medical treatment, injury reports or medical conditions involving the student-athlete during that time frame and cited 'developmental needs and our team's competitive circumstances' as its reason the student-athlete did not play in the 2022-23 season. The waiver request was denied."
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After taking over in Week 2 vs. Kentucky for injured starting quarterback Austin Simmons, Chambliss helped Ole Miss to a program-best 13-2 record and a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance this past season. In 15 games at Ole Miss, Chambliss threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdown passes and three interceptions while rushing for an additional 527 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.
He nearly sent the Rebels to the CFP national championship game, but the Rebels' answer to Carson Beck 's 3-yard go-ahead rushing TD for Miami in the CFP Fiesta Bowl semifinal came up short. Chambliss finished 23-of-37 passing for 277 yards and a touchdown in Ole Miss' 31-27 semifinal loss.
Should Chambliss not win his legal battle against the NCAA, he does have the option to head to the NFL, where he is expected to be one of the first handful of quarterbacks taken in the draft. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. views him as the third-ranked quarterback in the class.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trinidad Chambliss files lawsuit against NCAA over eligibility
