Ole Miss and Mississippi State’s quarterbacks, Trinidad Chambliss and Kamario Taylor, have been heralded by the Southeastern Conference for their Egg Bowl performances. Chambliss was awarded SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Taylor got the nod for SEC Freshman of the Week.
Chambliss, in the Rebels’ final matchup under the leadership of now-former head coach Lane Kiffin, showed out in a 38-19 win over Mississippi State. In the rivalry game, Chambliss completed 23 of 34 passes for 359 yards and 4 touchdowns, earning him the SEC Offensive Player of the Week crown. His top target was De’Zhaun Stribling with 66 yards and a pair of scores on 4 receptions.
Though the Chambliss-led red and blue atypically won by three scores, many boxes that a typical Egg Bowl would yield were checked: early sparring between both teams, enough jawing to ignite a brawl, and no love lost between two rivaling fanbases, as evidenced by Mississippi State fans allegedly stealing Chambliss’ jersey prior to kickoff. Fortunately for the Rebel field general, there was an extra one to be worn
“When you get word that your jersey was stolen, that kind of tells you how big the rivalry is,” Chambliss said after calling the Bulldog fans accused of stealing his jersey disrespectful. “Now I have some light on this rivalry, and they stole my jersey. I’ll hate Mississippi State for the rest of my life now.”
🏈 SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week | WK 14
🔵 Trinidad Chambliss, @OleMissFB #SECFB | presented by @Allstate pic.twitter.com/O1rehcawc7
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) December 1, 2025
Beyond the Division II transfer’s Egg Bowl performance, he finished the regular season leading the FBS with seven 300+ yard games. Chambliss also became the seventh Ole Miss signal caller to throw for 3,000 yards, currently sitting No. 11 on the single-season list at 3,016 yards and No. 10 on the total offense list at 3,486 in just 10 starts.
No. 7 Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1 SEC), having concluded the regular season, will await its postseason fate. The Rebels currently sit in a strong position to appear in their first-ever College Football Playoff game as a host team, barring a move by the selection committee to move Ole Miss down in the rankings due to the uncertainty surrounding a team not coached by Kiffin.
As for Kiffin, the offensive-minded coach had a dramatic departure from Oxford on Sunday, hopping on a plane to lead LSU’s football program. Not long after Kiffin’s exit was final, Ole Miss Athletics Director promoted sitting defensive coordinator Pete Golding to be the Rebels’ permanent head coach moving forward. Golding’s hiring was well-received by Ole Miss players, as he received a round of applause complemented by a standing ovation.
Meanwhile, Mississippi State’s season may have come to an end without bowl eligibility, but Bulldog fans were given a glimpse of future hope in a dual-threat quarterback from Noxubee County. Jeff Lebby had a wildcard up his sleeve in Taylor on Friday, giving the true freshman the starting nod over Blake Shapen.
Taylor did not disappoint. Against the Rebels, he logged 351 total yards — 178 in the air and 173 on the ground — while rushing for 2 touchdowns and throwing a pick that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. The field general’s biggest moment of the afternoon came on a 35-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 10 to respond to an early-4th quarter score by Ole Miss. Taylor shed, at minimum, a trio of prospective tacklers and raised all eyeballs in Davis Wade Stadium, in the process.
🏈 SEC Freshman of the Week | WK 14
🐶 Kamario Taylor, @HailStateFB #SECFB | presented by @Allstate pic.twitter.com/rl06gEWWkp
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) December 1, 2025
While Ole Miss will continue its season presumably in the College Football Playoff, Mississippi State will work to round out a high school class, acquire portal pieces, retain current players, and build for the 2026-27 campaign.
