Trinidad Chambliss spent three years winning games at Ferris State, a Division II program in Big Rapids, Michigan, that most FBS fans couldn’t place on a map. He transferred to Ole Miss in April as a backup with no guarantees, took over when Austin Simmons went down with an injury, and never relinquished the job.
Now Chambliss has guided the Rebels to the College Football Playoff after throwing for 3,016 yards and 18 touchdowns during the regular season while posting a 90.3 PFSN College QB Impact score that ranks fifth nationally.​
How Trinidad Chambliss Became Ole Miss’ Starting Quarterback
Chambliss entered fall camp as Simmons’ backup, appearing in the season opener against Georgia State for mop-up duty with four completions for 59 yards and a touchdown. Simmons’ ankle injury against Arkansas thrust Chambliss into the starting role, and he responded with 415 total yards and three touchdowns in a 41-35 win that announced his arrival.
The Rebels never looked back, and Simmons never reclaimed the starting job despite returning to health.​
Chambliss completed 65.5% of his passes during the regular season with just three interceptions, posting a 157.6 passer rating that reflects his efficiency and decision-making. He added 470 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 118 carries, giving Ole Miss a dual-threat element that forced defenses to account for him in both the run and pass game.
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The performance earned him a top-10 finish in Heisman Trophy voting and helped Ole Miss rank third nationally in both total and passing offense.​
His College Football Playoff debut against Tulane on Dec. 20 validated the Rebels’ faith in him, as Chambliss threw for one touchdown and ran for two more in a 41-10 dismantling of the No. 17 Green Wave. Ole Miss beat Tulane without head coach Lane Kiffin following his departure to LSU, but Chambliss kept the team focused and executed the game plan with the same composure he’d shown all season.​
Trinidad Chambliss’ Division II Dominance at Ferris State
Chambliss wasn’t a hidden prospect who fell through the cracks. He won a Division II national championship in 2024, throwing for 2,925 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 1,019 yards and 25 scores in a season that produced 51 total touchdowns.
Ferris State demolished previously unbeaten Valdosta State 49-14 in the title game, with Chambliss delivering one of the most dominant individual performances in Division II playoff history.​
He took a redshirt in 2021 during his freshman season and missed the 2022 campaign due to a respiratory issue, limiting his Division II career to three active seasons. Despite that, he quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in Division II.
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Ole Miss identified him as an undervalued asset in the transfer portal, betting that his production and athleticism would translate to the SEC despite the jump in competition.​
The gamble paid off immediately. Chambliss adapted to the speed of the SEC, protected the football, and delivered in high-leverage situations against defenses stocked with future NFL players. His 90.3 PFSN College QB Impact score reflects not just statistical production but the quality of his decision-making and his ability to elevate the players around him.
Chambliss has applied for a sixth year of eligibility, seeking a medical redshirt for the 2022 season, which he missed due to respiratory issues.
Ole Miss submitted a seven-page waiver to the NCAA on Dec. 22, arguing Chambliss would suffer “irreparable harm” if denied the opportunity to play another season. The school expects a response soon, but regardless of the outcome, Chambliss has already authored one of the most improbable quarterback stories in recent college football history.
