Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss Takes Fight to Court: Attorneys Plan Lawsuit Against NCAA over 2026 Eligibility
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss concluded its incredible 2025 playoff run last Thursday in Phoenix, Arizona, where the Miami Hurricanes took down the Rebels, 31-27. Less than 24 hours after the game, sources reported that Trinidad Chambliss’ initial waiver to play in 2026 had been denied due to the NCAA’s ruling. But fast forward to Sunday, January 11th, where reports not only revealed that attorney Tom Mars would be filing a lawsuit against the NCAA, but that attorney and founder of the Grove Collective, William Liston, would be working alongside Mars to represent Chambliss.
The preliminary injunction suit will be filed in the state of Mississippi, allowing Chambliss to be granted eligibility if the case remains ongoing during the 2026 season.
NEWS: Lawyers for Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss plan to file suit against the NCAA this week in state court in Mississippi for a preliminary injunction to secure Chambliss’ eligibility for 2026. Lawyer Tom Mars will work with noted Mississippi trial lawyer William Liston. pic.twitter.com/vse9z0jEQm
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 12, 2026
According to Pete Thamel, Mars tells ESPN that he and Liston:
“…have worked most of the weekend preparing a Complaint for a Preliminary and Permanent Injunction on behalf of Trinidad Chambliss. We expect the lawsuit to be far more detailed and documented than other eligibility lawsuits that have been filed in the past year…Therefore, considerable work needs to be done before we’ll be prepared to seek an injunction that would allow Trinidad to play next season. Unless the NCAA appeals committee overturns the denial of the waiver before then, we currently anticipate filing the lawsuit in Mississippi state court toward the end of week. In the meantime, we won’t have any further comment.”
Tom Mars to ESPN
Additionally, Mars posted a tweet Monday afternoon explaining how in the NCAA’s statement to the denial of his waiver request, the NCAA actually left out a key part of Ferris State’s statement:
A good example of why people who testify in court must swear to tell the “whole truth” – not just the part that fits their narrative. pic.twitter.com/oMhoCtyMYx
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) January 12, 2026
Further, Mars also tweeted this Monday afternoon regarding D2 and D3 waivers as opposed to D1:
NCAA TRIVIA: D2 and D3 waivers can be granted based on “non-contemporaneous” medical documentation as long as a physician reviews and analyzes the records. But in DI, a physician who gives an unqualified opinion of “incapacity” based on his own medical records isn’t good enough. pic.twitter.com/LbglUbjD46
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) January 12, 2026
With Chambliss wanting another year of eligibility, many fans around college football will ask, ‘Why not just go to the NFL?’ As it stands, Chambliss would make a reported $5 million in 2026 at Ole Miss. On the flip side, in nearly every NFL Draft projection, the Rebel quarterback is slated as a second or third-round pick, where he would make significantly less money. If he is granted injunctive relief, he would have the opportunity to boost his draft stock even higher through another year of play in the SEC.
Whether Chambliss will be suited up in red and blue next fall is still up for question, but with Mars and Liston representing Chambliss, this will be an extremely competitive case against the NCAA.
As always, continue to stay tuned with The Rebel Walk for all of your Ole Miss sports needs. Hotty Toddy, and go Rebs.
