Trinidad Chambliss had the opportunity to follow Lane Kiffin to LSU last offseason and continue the partnership that helped transform him from a Division II quarterback at Ferris State into one of the SEC's top playmakers.
Instead, he chose to remain in Oxford, a decision that showcased his loyalty to the Rebels and Pete Golding.
On Saturday, Sept. 16, that gamble paid off in a major way.
Chambliss out-dueled LSU counterpart Sam Leavitt and the coach who helped spark his rise, leading No. 9 Ole Miss to a 32-24 victory over No. 7 LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
The 6-foot quarterback delivered several clutch plays in the Rebels' top-10 ranked win, including
the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter when he called his own number and took the quarterback keeper 14 yards to the left side and into the end zone.
"It's amazing, Chambliss said to Holly Rowe about the win on ESPN. "... Our team is resilient. I love it so much. I'm speechless."
He added: "We worked our buts off this week and the whole year."
The Heisman Trophy candidate built his case to earn an invitation to New York City with his first-half performance, as he completed 21-of-27 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns: a 21-yard throw to Traylon Ray and a 20-yard throw to Deuce Alexander.
He did commit some mistakes on the night — an interception and a 20-yard sack in the third quarter — two setbacks for Ole Miss' offense that came at the point of the game where LSU had shifted all the momentum its way on its comeback from a 24-7 halftime deficit.
Here's a deeper look at Chambliss' stats in Week 3 against Kiffin and LSU:
Trinidad Chambliss stats vs LSU
Here's a full look at Chambliss' stats on Sept. 19 against the Tigers:
- Completions: 33
- Attempts: 48
- Completion percentage: 69%
- Passing yards: 363
- Touchdowns: 2
- Interceptions: 1
- Rushing attempts: 9
- Rushing touchdowns: 1
Trinidad Chambliss highlights vs LSU
Here's a look at some of Chambliss' highlights from Ole Miss' win over LSU:
AN ABSOLUTE DIME 🤯 @TrinidadChambl1 x @TraylonRay6 #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/36Vw4HlUya
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 20, 2026
.@calebodomm BROUGHT THE FIGHT 💪 pic.twitter.com/CEzojQd7y6
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 20, 2026
ON A SILVER T-RAY 🍽️ @TraylonRay6 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/4Oy0SkY6oP
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 20, 2026
DEUCEEEEE *we all say in unison* 😌@Deuceisloose3 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/A1TYRHp9CS
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 20, 2026
TRINIDAD WITH THE ASSIST 😮💨@TrinidadChambl1 x @TraylonRay6 pic.twitter.com/JB4TxPrs5s
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 20, 2026
SMOOTH OPERATORRRR 😮💨@TrinidadChambl1 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/IDyNQtXGEu
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 20, 2026
Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trinidad Chambliss stats: Ole Miss QB leads win vs Lane Kiffin, bolsters Heisman case
