Though he was not recognized as an SEC player of the week for his strong showing in his inaugural start, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is being spotlighted on the national level.
Chambliss, a former Division II signal caller turned understudy to Rebel field general Austin Simmons, got the starting nod on Saturday as Simmons nursed a left ankle injury. In his debut, Chambliss picked the Arkansas defense apart, accounting for 415 total yards (353 passing and 62 rushing) and three scores (one in the air and two on the ground) in his first start on the Division I level. His efforts helped lead Ole Miss to a dramatic, hard-fought 41-35 victory over the Razorbacks
Because of his strong showing, Chambliss was named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week. The Maxwell Award is one of the most prestigious honors and is presented annually to the college football player deemed the most outstanding by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and coaches.
Maxwell Award Player of the Week 🔥#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/35u5kA1ULB
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 16, 2025
“It’s a dream come true. You dream of moments like this,” Chambliss said after the game. “Coming from a DII [school], I’m very grateful and appreciative of the opportunity that arose today. I’m going to soak it all in, interact with the fans, all the fans, because that was me when I was little.”
While most in the college football world may have raised their eyebrows in surprise at the backup’s stellar performance, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was in the minority. The sixth-year Rebel frontman referred to Chambliss as a player with the “it factor,” and noted that the Ferris State transfer had proven reliable in practices, scrimmages, and even the two games leading up to the Arkansas contest.
“Trinidad’s day didn’t surprise me. Anytime we’ve gone into [Vaught-Hemingway Stadium] for scrimmages, or his play in the last two games, he’s done a fabulous job,” Kiffin said. “He has the ‘it [factor].’ That’s why we brought him here.”
Next up for Ole Miss is a Saturday home matchup against a solid Tulane bunch at 2:30 p.m. CT. ESPN and participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations will air the matchup. Kiffin told reporters Monday that he expects Simmons to take the opening snaps of the contest. However, Kiffin is not obligated to release an injury report this week as the Green Wave is not an SEC opponent.
