NCAA Appeals Ruling Granting Ole Miss QB 6th Year

The NCAA is challenging a state court's decision to allow the Ole Miss quarterback an extra season of eligibility.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The NCAA has filed an appeal with the Mississippi Supreme Court, challenging a preliminary injunction granted by a state court that allowed Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to receive a sixth year of college eligibility. The NCAA argues that it has final authority over interpreting and applying its own eligibility rules, and that the court's intervention sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine fair competition.

Why it matters

This case could have major implications for the 2026 college football season, as Chambliss is expected to be one of the top players in the SEC. The NCAA is seeking to protect its authority to enforce eligibility rules, which it says is crucial for ensuring a level playing field among all competitors.

The details

In a 658-page filing, the NCAA argues that the injunction granting Chambliss a sixth year "subjects the NCAA to substantial and irreparable injury." The organization claims its even-handed enforcement of eligibility rules is necessary to provide opportunities for all student-athletes and maintain fair competition. The NCAA is citing a 2015 Mississippi Supreme Court ruling that found the state high school athletic association's eligibility decisions are not subject to state court review.

  • On March 5, 2026, the NCAA filed an appeal with the Mississippi Supreme Court.
  • In February 2026, a local judge in Mississippi granted Chambliss a preliminary injunction for a sixth year of eligibility.

The players

Trinidad Chambliss

The Ole Miss quarterback who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by a state court in Mississippi.

NCAA

The organization that oversees college athletics and is appealing the court's decision to grant Chambliss an extra year of eligibility.

Tom Mars

One of Chambliss' lawyers, who said he expects the NCAA to "get their teeth knocked out" in this appeal, referencing the organization's loss in the Alston case.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone remembers when the NCAA famously appealed to the Supreme Court in the Alston case and got their teeth knocked out by Justice Kavanaugh. I expect the NCAA to be spitting chiclets in this appeal as well.”

— Tom Mars, Chambliss' lawyer (ESPN)

What’s next

The Mississippi Supreme Court will decide whether to grant the NCAA's appeal of the preliminary injunction allowing Chambliss a sixth year of eligibility.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between the NCAA's authority to enforce its eligibility rules and the ability of student-athletes to seek legal recourse when they believe those rules have been applied unfairly. The outcome could set an important precedent for how much deference courts give to the NCAA's decisions.