When former Ferris State quarterback Trinidad Chambliss entered the transfer portal, he was far from a high-profile recruit. According to 247Sports, he was the 843rd overall player in the portal and the 60th-ranked quarterback. And when he found a home at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin, expectations weren’t exactly high for the senior, despite the fact that he was fresh off of leading the Bulldogs to a D-II championship.
Chambliss entered the season as the backup to Austin Simmons, who was widely considered a top-25 QB in the 2023 recruiting class, per Rivals.
After Simmons injured his ankle in a Week 2 win over Kentucky, Chambliss was given the opportunity to prove that he could play at a higher level. Suddenly, it appears that he’s not ready to give up the starting job any time soon.
Kiffin Says Simmons Will Be Ole Miss Starting QB When 100% Healthy
WATCH:
“At 100%, he’s (Austin Simmons) our starting quarterback.”
-Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin
Kiffin also noted the decision who plays will be about “health” on Saturday against LSU. pic.twitter.com/hGnV5Nx78s
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) September 22, 2025
While Kiffin recently reiterated that when Simmons is 100% healthy, he is going to return as the Rebels’ starting quarterback, a win over No. 4 LSU could change that.
Chambliss has outplayed Simmons so far this season, and a victory over a top-five opponent might force Kiffin to reconsider his spot on the depth chart, especially given the Rebels’ upcoming schedule.
After playing No. 4 LSU this week, Ole Miss will have a much-needed bye week before taking on Washington State, No. 5 Georgia, and No. 7 Oklahoma to close out October.
QB Comparison: Chambliss vs. Simmons
Chambliss has thrown for over 300 yards in both of his starts and has yet to throw an interception in 62 pass attempts while leading Ole Miss to victories over Arkansas and Tulane. Against Tulane, Chambliss looked the part of an SEC starter, throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 112 yards on 14 carries in a 45-10 win.
Chambliss ranks seventh in the nation in QBR (88.5) and is averaging a healthy 9.33 yards per play in Kiffin’s offense. In his lone two starts, Chambliss compiled a QBR of 89.6 versus Arkansas and 90.1 versus Tulane. Those kinds of numbers are going to be hard to ignore, especially if he can add a victory over a potential CFP-caliber team on his resume.
On the other hand, Simmons has thrown for as many touchdowns (four) as interceptions through two games and hasn’t been nearly as dynamic on the ground. He’s thrown for 580 yards in two starts while completing 60.7% of his passes compared to 67.7% from Chambliss.
While Simmons has superior arm talent, Chambliss’s ability to make plays on the ground and take care of the football could be what the Ole Miss offense needs to compete for an SEC title.
How NIL Money Might Factor Into Ole Miss QB Decision
The problem might be the level of investment that Ole Miss has in both quarterbacks. Simmons took a $2.1 million NIL deal to sign with the Rebels in December 2024 and has widely been considered as the heir apparent to NFL first-round pick Jaxson Dart.
On the other hand, Chambliss received a $500,000 NIL deal, which is the going rate for quality quarterbacks at the Power 4 level, but far from what top recruits and transfers command at the nation’s top programs.
When Chambliss opted for Ole Miss instead of becoming the guaranteed starter at Temple, he was sold on the idea that he’d have the opportunity to compete with Simmons for the starting job.
Famed quarterback trainer Steve Calhoun, who has worked with Chambliss since his time at Ferris State, says that playing under Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis also factored into his decision.
The family believed and loved what they heard,” Calhoun told CBS Sports. “To play in the SEC, play for Coach Kiffin and (offensive coordinator Charlie) Weis, two innovative offensive minds that fit Trinidad’s skillset, it was pretty much a no-brainer.”
With Chambliss outplaying his higher-priced counterpart, it will be interesting to see whether Kiffin and Ole Miss will hold up their end of the bargain.
