Few expected the 2025 Ole Miss football season to play out like this. When the year began, the Rebels appeared well-positioned to challenge for an SEC crown with veteran quarterback Austin Simmons leading the charge. But after a sluggish start, and Simmons’ injury against Kentucky, the offense lost its rhythm, and Lane Kiffin was forced to look deeper down the depth chart.
That’s when Trinidad Chambliss entered the picture.
The Ferris State transfer, fresh off a Division II national championship, joined the Rebels last spring with impressive credentials having over 2,900 passing yards, 26 touchdowns through the air, and more than 1,000 yards and 25 scores on the ground. Still, few believed he’d become the centerpiece of Ole Miss’s SEC push.
Now, after seven games, Chambliss has not only stabilized the Rebels’ offense, he’s elevated it. With over 1,500 passing yards, 13 total touchdowns, just one interception, and 323 rushing yards, the dual-threat signal-caller has ignited a unit that once seemed stuck in neutral.
A Rough Beginning Turns Into a Breakout Story
Before Oklahoma: Respectable, But Not Yet Contenders
Heading into their matchup with Oklahoma, Ole Miss was more dark horse than frontrunner. The Rebels had shown flashes of excellence, thanks to Chambliss’s poise and Kewan Lacy’s steady production out of the backfield, but the SEC gauntlet and a few early missteps left them just outside the upper tier of contenders. They were viewed as dangerous but not serious, that has all changed with how feisty this crew has shown to be in the last few weeks.
After the Oklahoma Upset: A Program Reborn
Then came the Oklahoma game and everything changed.
Ole Miss delivered one of its most complete performances under Kiffin, dominating all three phases in a statement win that vaulted the Rebels back into national relevance. With Chambliss once again efficient and Lacy setting the tone on the ground, the victory sent their postseason projections soaring: The Rebels’ odds nearly doubled across the board, signaling just how impactful that victory was. Suddenly, Ole Miss wasn’t just hanging around the conversation but instead was firmly in the middle of it. And with a favorable schedule ahead, the path to Atlanta and even the CFP looks more realistic than ever.
A Manageable Stretch Ahead
The good news for Kiffin’s crew? The toughest part of the schedule is behind them. The upcoming slate looks far less daunting but Ole Miss has learned the hard way that there are no easy weekends in college football. Their narrow escape against Washington State was a timely reminder that focus and execution remain paramount. Take no team lightly because this Ole Miss team has no problems getting up for games where the talent either matches up or is “better” but then play down to competition whne those trap games arise.
Here’s what’s left on the docket:
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vs South Carolina
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vs The Citadel
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vs Florida
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at Mississippi State
After losing several key pieces from last year’s squad, many thought this would be a transition season. Losing key pieces on offense especially with four year starting QB Jaxson Dart and star WR Tre Harris, made it seem inevitable that some sort of regression was bound to happen. Somehow they leveled up in one of the nicest surprises this team has seen in some time. Instead, it’s become a legitimate run at the SEC crown.
Can Ole Miss Actually Win the SEC?
Momentum says yes but the numbers still demand patience.
Chambliss’s rise from Division II standout to SEC playmaker has completely reshaped Ole Miss’s offense, while Lacy continues to provide the steady balance that defines elite teams. The defense, meanwhile, has developed a knack for timely turnovers and red-zone stops, they have been the definition of bend don’t break and doing just enough for this offense to close games out. This has helped the Rebels win close games and build confidence heading into November.
If Ole Miss continues to play clean, complementary football, the Rebels could be knocking on the door of their first SEC Championship Game appearance in the Kiffin era.
The Bottom Line
Trinidad Chambliss’s improbable journey has turned into the story of the SEC season. A month ago, Ole Miss was teetering on the edge of relevance; now, it’s one of the hottest teams in the nation with playoff hopes that are suddenly very real. For a team that was once perceived as fun and explosive to watch, has now turned into the team no one wants to see with legit title aspirations.
From Division II to the SEC spotlight, Chambliss has sparked a turnaround few saw coming. And if the Rebels keep this up, don’t be surprised if they’re the ones standing under the confetti in Atlanta when December rolls around.
Main Image: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
