NCAA Appeals Chambliss Ruling, But Lawyer Says Reversal Unlikely

The NCAA is formally appealing the preliminary injunction that allows Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss to play this season.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The NCAA has formally appealed the preliminary injunction that allows Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to play this season, but a legal expert says the Mississippi Supreme Court is unlikely to overturn the lower court's ruling. Chambliss, who threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, was denied a medical redshirt waiver by the NCAA multiple times before taking the case to state court.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tension between the NCAA and student-athletes over eligibility rules and the growing willingness of players to challenge the NCAA's authority in court. A ruling in favor of Chambliss could set a precedent that makes it harder for the NCAA to deny waivers in the future.

The details

According to lawyer John Cox, the odds of the Mississippi Supreme Court overturning the preliminary injunction secured by Chambliss in lower court are "slim to none." The NCAA is arguing that allowing Chambliss to play would give Ole Miss an unfair advantage, but Cox says the appellate court is unlikely to "flip-turn chancellors" on a ruling unless it was "egregious." Eight of the nine sitting justices on the Mississippi Supreme Court have degrees from Ole Miss, which Cox says doesn't bode well for the NCAA's chances.

  • The NCAA filed the 658-page appeal on Thursday, March 6, 2026, according to court documents.
  • Ole Miss opens its season against Louisville on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

The players

Trinidad Chambliss

The star quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels who threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. Chambliss is suing the NCAA after being denied a medical redshirt waiver multiple times.

John Cox

A Cleveland-based lawyer who believes the Mississippi Supreme Court is unlikely to overturn the preliminary injunction that allows Chambliss to play this season.

Robert Whitwell

The Mississippi state court judge who issued the preliminary injunction that allows Chambliss to play this season, ruling that the NCAA ignored medical evidence and acted in bad faith.

Tom Mars

One of Chambliss' attorneys, who said he expects the NCAA to be "spitting chiclets" in this appeal just as they did in the Shawne Alston case against the Supreme Court.

William Liston

Another attorney representing Chambliss, who is a founding member of the Grove Collective, the donor-funded NIL collective that supports Ole Miss athletes.

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What they’re saying

“The Supreme Court's not going to be able to substitute their judgement for Judge Whitwell's. [The NCAA's] going to ask them to, but they're not. They're going to basically say, 'Well, did he follow the law? Did he use the right law?' In other words, was the correct legal standard used?”

— John Cox, Lawyer (on3.com)

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

— Tom Mars, Attorney for Trinidad Chambliss (on3.com)

What’s next

The Mississippi Supreme Court will decide whether to expedite a ruling on the NCAA's appeal in hopes of resolving the case before Ole Miss' season opener on September 6, 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing willingness of student-athletes to challenge the NCAA's authority in court, and a ruling in favor of Chambliss could make it harder for the NCAA to deny medical redshirt waivers in the future, potentially shifting the balance of power between the organization and its players.