What could have been one of the greatest weeks in Ole Miss history ended in heartbreak for many fans.
After defeating archrival Mississippi State 38-19 on Friday, the Rebels finished 11-1 in the regular season and nearly secured a playoff spot. However, head coach Lane Kiffin announced he would leave Ole Miss to take the head coaching job at LSU.
On Monday, the Rebels shared upbeat news.
Trinidad Chambliss Named SEC Player of the Week
On Sunday, Ole Miss fans gathered to boo Kiffin and staff members departing for LSU as they boarded a plane to Baton Rouge. Following Kiffin’s departure, defensive coordinator Pete Golding will be taking over for Kiffin as the permanent head coach.
Despite turmoil in Oxford, the Rebels are set for the playoff with Golding providing stability, and received good news Monday.
For his performance in the victory over the Bulldogs on Friday, Chambliss was named the SEC Player of the Week.
🇹🇹
23/34
359 YDS
10.6 AVG
4 TD
0 INT@TrinidadChambl1 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/64tf8i4c4I— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 1, 2025
Chambliss completed 23 of 34 passes for 359 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. This season, he has 218 completions in 333 attempts for 3,016 yards, 18 touchdowns, and only three interceptions, plus 470 rushing yards and six scores.
Chambliss, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, spent three years at Ferris State before transferring to Ole Miss for the 2025 season.
Chambliss was expected to back up Austin Simmons before Simmons injured his ankle. Chambliss became the starter against Arkansas and has excelled since.
Of course, this brings up further questions
Will Trinidad Chambliss Return Next Season?
Chambliss is a senior pursuing a waiver for another year of eligibility.
“That would be great for me to get another year,” Chambliss said. “Another year in the offense, having the spring and just developing more on this level. That would definitely be huge.”
Chambliss gave this quote before Kiffin’s departure, so if granted another year, he’d be learning a new system – unless he joins Kiffin at LSU.
No reports suggest Chambliss could follow his former coach to Baton Rouge, but it’s possible – especially given Kiffin’s recent tweet using a Trinidad and Tobago flag and Tiger emoji.
“Ole Miss fans brought the familiar red and blue Trinidad and Tobago flag to games this season in support of Chambliss, who had an all-conference caliber campaign for the Rebels after transferring from Division II Ferris State,” writes Brad Crawford of CBS Sports. “It would come as no surprise if Kiffin is planning on trying to poach Chambliss, given his production and glove-like fit schematically.”
Chambliss is likely focused on the playoffs, but these recent developments should intensify the Ole Miss–LSU rivalry.