Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss returned to campus. After winning an injunction to continue his career, he stepped back onto campus as the starting quarterback for the Rebels. Additionally, being the quarterback of an SEC team comes with perks many quarterbacks around the country may not enjoy. Chambliss discussed the difference between staying in school and taking a chance at the next level.
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss Opens Up About His Lucrative NIL Payday
Last year, after a championship career at Division II Ferris State, Chambliss transferred to Mississippi. He threw for an SEC-leading 3,937 yards and 30 combined touchdowns.
Chambliss, via court decision, can play one more season of college football. That includes a $6 million NIL payday. Chambliss sat down with Vanity Fair to discuss the windfall.
“I have a financial adviser, I have an agent, I have a marketing agency,” Chambliss told Bomani Jones on Saturday, still trying to believe it himself.
At Ferris State, the currency is more prestigious than financial awards. However, once he stepped into the SEC, the money grew. Now, with the trappings of success surrounding him, he hired a team to make sure not only that he could maximize his value but also that he could take care of the money that had already found its way into his account.
That is a far cry from scrounging for money in Division II, just trying to grab an extra meal, as Chambliss explains.
When he started college, Chambliss recalls, “It was, okay, I have $100 to spend on my groceries for these two weeks. It’s just wild to see, like, the first check hit, and it’s like, Wow, I have that much money. That’s crazy.”
Chambliss’ incredulous response sums up the narrative that could be affixed to his college career. After last year’s appearance in the College Football Playoff, it appeared that his college days had come to a close.
If Chambliss had declared for the NFL draft as a projected Day 2 pick, his slotted salary would fall well short of the $16,168,614 that No. 32 pick Jadarian Price will earn over the life of his first-round contract. The $6 million to stay at Ole Miss and enter the draft pool next season could give Chambliss an edge.
Yahoo Sports noted that Chambliss was projected as a Day 2 pick, making his decision to stay appear financially prudent.
“Did Trinidad Chambliss make the right decision to stay in college? After being projected as a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, he’s set to make $5M-$6M this season at Ole Miss, per The Athletic.”
Did Trinidad Chambliss make the right decision to stay in college? 🧐
After being projected as a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, he’s set to make $5M-$6M this season at Ole Miss, per The Athletic. pic.twitter.com/NRCtSVp4b6
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 29, 2026
On Jan. 16, Chambliss’ legal team sued the NCAA because the governing body rejected his waiver to reclassify his original redshirt. In 2022, he took a redshirt due to an illness that prevented him from playing. Chambliss asserted that the waiver be changed to a medical waiver.
On Feb. 12, a Mississippi court granted Chambliss a preliminary injunction, allowing him to return to Ole Miss to play one more season. With head coach Pete Golding officially taking the reins, the Rebels, with Chambliss running the offense, hope for a repeat of last season.
Chambliss landed at No. 5 in the PFSN CFB QB Impact Rankings. Before he faces his former head coach, Lane Kiffin, and LSU on Sept. 19, Ole Miss starts the season on Sept. 6 against Louisville in Nashville.
