The moment of truth has finally arrived. As the Grateful Dead once said, “Things went down you don’t understand, but I think in time you will.” Inside the Calhoun County Courthouse in Pittsboro, MS, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is set to appeal to a Mississippi judge for recognition that a season lost due to documented medical hardship should not hinder his future prospects—something the NCAA has failed to acknowledge.
The central focus of today’s hearing is on his motion for a preliminary injunction against the NCAA. This legal action aims to stop the NCAA from enforcing its decision to deny him an extra year of eligibility for the 2026 season. The Chambliss camp was forced to take this route in its case after the NCAA rejected Chambliss’ initial request for a medical hardship waiver. He would later get denied his appeal, which has led him and his legal team to Pittsobor today.
The NCAA still remains firm and will continue to argue that their review process was done correctly and that the eligibility ruling denying Chambliss should remain intact along with the denial of an injunction.
Our Ole Miss 365 crew of David Johnson, Don Walls, and Jason Watkins will be live from Pittsboro today, providing real-time updates inside the Chambliss hearing. But like Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia put it, “One way or another this darkness has got to give.”
LIVE UPDATES THREAD:
9:20 AM: Ole Miss 365s David Johnson previews the mood in Pittsboro
9:22 AM: No empty seats remain inside the Calhoun County Courthouse. Legal teams for both Trinidad Chambliss have arrived
Trinidad Chambliss Legal Team has arrived
NCAA Legal Team has arrived
Former Mississippi governor Ronnie Musgrove is on hand for the hearing today.
9:36 AM: Trinidad Chambliss has arrived and is seated with his legal team. Tom Mars and William Liston
9:37: Reverend Chad Logan gave the opening prayer. He prayed for him to win the hearing. The judge complimented him on prayer.
9:38 AM: We are officially underway here in Pittsboro. Dr. Ford Dye takes the stand first on behalf of Trinidad.
9:46 AM: Chambliss’ attorney William Liston currently is direct examining Dye
9:51 AM: The courtroom is currently hearing testimony on the tonsil condition of Chambliss during his time at Ferris St.
9:58 AM: The courtroom is still hearing testimony on behalf of Chambliss from Dr. Ford Dye
10:12 AM: The NCAA legal team has begun their cross-examination with Dr. Dye. Dye is an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
10:31 AM: Liston has begun his redirect of Dr. Dye. They are battling over the credence of Trinidad’s tonsil recovery along with the meaning of the word “incapacity.”
10:38 AM: NCAA just objected to Liston wanting to enter NCAA’s own verbiage in the medical manual. The objection was overruled.
10:40 AM: The judge now is questioning Dr. Dye.
10:42 AM: Dr. Dye has been excused. Ole Miss Coach Joe Judge has now taken the stand.
10:53 AM: Liston offers Coach Joe Judge as a quarterback and football expert. NCAA objects. The judge also refuses to accept him as an expert, instead labeling him as a layperson.
10:55 AM: Currently Coach Judge is explaining the NFL Draft and where Trinidad would fit in.
11:04 AM: Coach Judge testifying on the benefits of Trinidad returning to college for his future NFL career. He says he needs another year of college for the future NFL Draft and why. He has been very impressive.
11:08 AM: Trinidad sitting quietly at Ole Miss’s legal team schedule. He was not sworn in, so he is not expected to testify today. Judge is still being examined by Liston.
11:15 AM: The judge now testifies about players having babies during the season and how he has to have conversations with expectant mothers about how Dad has to sleep and can’t feed during the season. Draws laughter from the courtroom. Liston still examines him.
1:17 AM: Joe Judge is now being asked about the NFL Draft and draft predictions on mock drafts. Says they are for entertainment only.
11:21 AM: The topic has switched to the Heisman Trophy. Coach Judge says he believes Trinidad is a Heisman candidate in 2026. Liston has concluded his direct examination. The NCAA now has started their cross-examination, Judge.
11:26 AM: Coach Judge is schooling the NCAA attorney on the NFL Draft. He is a very impressive witness for Trinidad.
11:30 AM: The court has taken a 10-min recess. Coach Joe Judge just kicked the NCAA’s butt. Looks like Ole Miss got lawyers from Macy’s and the NCAA got theirs from the Dollar Tree
11:46 AM: Court is back in session, and now Trinidad’s mom, Cheryl Chambliss, has taken the stand. Liston has begun his direction.
11:55 AM: Mom is testifying Ferris State told her how sick Trinidad was prior to the 2022 season. Says family could not afford to lose his scholarship to Ferris State. She was told by the HC at Ferris State that he was medically redshirted. In fact, Trinidad would be eligible to play D2 in 2026 because there are different rules.
Noon: News outlets reported at his time of transfer that he had two years to play at the time of transfer to Ole Miss. Then GM Billy Glasscock also told him 2 years.
Noon: NCAA declines to cross-examine Mrs. Chambliss. The attorney congratulates her on raising a good son.
Noon: Court is in recess for lunch till 1:30PM. When they return, Trinidad is expected to take the stand. The judge says he also hopes to have the decision today.
1:05 PM: David Johnson spoke to the NCAA attorneys. They are from Nashville and Atlanta. This will be the same team that will fight Joey Aguilera’s case at Tennessee on Friday.
Note: The NCAA has denied Ole Miss’ request for a reconsideration of QB Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility waiver. Ole Miss submitted the request Monday with new evidence. The evidence did not meet the NCAA threshold for a reconsideration.
1:15 PM: Court has resumed in Pittsboro
1:18 PM : Trinidad Chambliss is set to take the stand
1:22 PM: Trinidad Chambliss is on the stand
1:26 PM: Trinidad says when he came to Ole Miss, he was told by Ferris State that he had a medical redshirt for 2022. He said he assumed what Ferris State told him was true. He was never asked to do any paperwork in the matter.
1:32 PM: Trinidad weighed just 176 pounds heading into the 2022 season due to loss of appetite associated with tonsils and sleep disorder.
1:35 PM: Two weeks before the 2022 season, Ferris State informed Trinidad that he would receive a medical redshirt and would not play.
1:38 PM: Trinidad now says he weighs 205 pounds since he has regained his health. 1:41 PM: Trinidad has played in only three seasons. 2023, 2024, and
2025. He says benefits of the fourth season include experience, and he feels like the ’26 team will be better than the ’25 squad. An additional year of college development will make him a higher draft pick, he says.
1:44 PM: Liston has finished his direct. Now the NCAA will start their cross with Chambliss.
1:51 PM: Trinidad is done. The judge asked him questions before. Trinidad’s side bad NCAA tests.
1:52 PM: Closing arguments are about to get underway.
1:56 PM: Argument 1. NCAA owes Trinidad a fair faith and good deal. The NCAA has breached that.
1:58 PM: Argument 2: An injunction is necessary to prevent irreparable harm.
Joe Judge sits between Trinidad’s parents during closing arguments.
2:03 PM: Argument 3: Harm to Trinidad outweighs harm to NCAA with injunction.
2:04PM: Judge references Carson Beck’s sixth year. Just interject it into Trinidad’s closing arguments. Final Argument: Public interest is clearly in favor across the board of Trinidad.
2:06 PM : The NCAA lawyer from Atlanta is making their closing argument.
2:15 PM: The NCAA is arguing with the judge over the Ferris State doctor’s letter in 2022 and one written in 2025 versus what is “contemporaneous.”
2:17 PM: The NCAA points out Ole Miss has no one here from Ferris St. to testify
2:28 PM: Hate stares all over this courtroom for NCAA attorney making their case.
2:36 PM: NCAA brings up Bama basketball player and how the NCAA won the case. The judge corrects him that it is a totally different deal. Judge also adds he currently has a child who plays tennis at Ole Miss.
2:43 PM: The NCAA has finished their closing argument. Liston is now about to begin his rebuttal. He points out the only medical evidence provided today was in Trinidad’s favor.
2:53 PM: Liston continues his rebuttal
3:01 PM: Court is in recess for a decision.
As we await the ruling in Pittsboro. Ole Miss fans have been here in support of Trinidad throughout today’s hearing! #Free6
3:39 PM: Court remains in recess as we all await judgement. Joe Judge and Tom Mars
3:43 PM: Trinidad Chambliss is awaiting the ruling to see if he will be granted an injunction after a full day of testimony.
Chambliss with Lead attorney William Liston Signing autographs as he awaits the ruling in his case.
