We’re back with our second round of TTOP for the 2026 season. This summer we’ll be exploring the top 10 offensive and defensive players Mizzou football is slated to face this fall. We’re not ranking them 1-10, it’s much more scientific then that (or linguistic since we are just ordering them alphabetically.)
So far, we’ve previewed Florida running back Jaden Baugh and Georgia safety KJ Bolden. So who’s next? Why the island man himself:
Trinidad Chambliss
School: Ole Miss
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Position: QB
Class:
Triple super duper senior with a (court-ordered) cherry on top
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205 lbs.
What he’s done
Trinidad Chambliss’ journey to Oxford, Miss. has been anything but conventional. The 6-1, 200 lbs. quarterback from Grand Rapids, Michigan began his career at D-II Ferris State before eventually transferring to Ole Miss as a backup before last season. His case for a sixth season centered on a missed 2022 campaign because of respiratory issues, and a Mississippi judge ultimately ruled in his favor after the NCAA denied his waiver request.
On the field, Chambliss delivered one of the best quarterback seasons in Ole Miss history in 2025. He completed 294 of 445 passes for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and just three interceptions while adding 527 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground. His 86.5 QBR ranked among the nation’s leaders and helped propel the Rebels to a 13-win season and a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance.
His best football came late in the season as Chambliss dazzled during Ole Miss’ playoff run, leading the Rebels past Tulane in a 41-10 first-round victory before helping knock off Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss’ season eventually ended with a narrow semifinal loss to Miami, but Chambliss’ performance on the national stage elevated him from SEC star to household name. He finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting and established himself as one of the country’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks.
What He’ll Do
The expectations entering 2026 are enormous for Chambliss and the Rebels alike. Chambliss returns as arguably the most accomplished quarterback in the SEC and a legitimate contender to become Ole Miss’ first Heisman Trophy winner.
His combination of efficiency and mobility makes him difficult to defend. He can beat defenses from the pocket, create explosive plays outside structure and extend drives with his legs when protection breaks down. Few quarterbacks in the country offer that complete package.
The biggest question is not Chambliss. It’s everything around him.
Lane Kiffin’s departure left Ole Miss navigating significant coaching changes, and history suggests even elite quarterbacks can struggle during transitions. New head coach Pete Golding inherits a roster capable of competing for a playoff berth, but replacing an entire staff is never seamless. Still, if Ole Miss remains in the playoff race, Chambliss will likely spend much of the fall near the top of the Heisman leaderboard.
Mizzou Matchup
Mizzou will travel to Oxford this season for one of its toughest road tests of the year. While the Rebels face questions about their new coaching staff, there are very few questions about the quarterback position.
Chambliss presents a unique challenge for Corey Batoon’s defense because he stresses opponents in multiple ways. He is accurate enough to punish single coverage, athletic enough to escape pressure and experienced enough to recognize defensive disguises before the snap. Simply put, there are not many weaknesses to attack.
The Tigers’ best chance may be forcing Ole Miss to prove its new offensive system can consistently function under pressure. Expect Batoon to mix coverages, show simulated pressures and attempt to keep Chambliss in the pocket rather than allowing him to create outside structure.
Offensively, Chip Lindsey and Austin Simmons, the quarterback Chambliss Wally Pipped last year at Ole Miss, may need to help Mizzou’s defense by controlling possession and limiting opportunities. A shootout in Oxford likely favors the home team and its veteran quarterback.
Chambliss enters the season as one of the SEC’s premier players and perhaps the biggest obstacle standing between Mizzou and a signature road victory. If the Tigers can slow him down, they will have a chance. If they cannot, Ole Miss could once again find itself in the College Football Playoff conversation by season’s end.
Peyton Bowen
School: Oklahoma
Hometown: Corinth, Texas
Position: Safety
Class: Senior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 203 lbs.
What He’s Done
Peyton Bowen came to Oklahoma as one of the nation’s top defensive back prospects after a highly publicized recruitment that saw him flip from Notre Dame to Oregon and ultimately sign with the Sooners. The Dallas-area native was one of the crown jewels of Brent Venables’ 2023 recruiting class and wasted little time getting on the field.
As a true freshman in 2023, Bowen appeared in all 13 games and finished with 36 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and five pass breakups. His versatility allowed Oklahoma to use him at safety, nickel and in pressure packages near the line of scrimmage.
His sophomore season was quieter statistically due to injury, but still showcased his value to the Sooners’ defense. Bowen recorded 33 tackles and a pass breakup while serving as a steady presence in the secondary. Opposing offenses often avoided challenging him down the field, limiting his opportunities to produce splash plays. While the interception numbers did not materialize, Oklahoma coaches consistently praised his football IQ, communication skills and ability to keep the defense organized. He peaked last year as a junior, finishing second team All-SEC and picking up 46 tackles and two interceptions.
At 6-0 and 203 lbs., Bowen possesses the athleticism to cover receivers in space and the physicality to support against the run. That combination has made him one of the most valuable defensive backs on Oklahoma’s roster heading into SEC play.
What He’ll Do
Bowen enters 2026 with expectations of becoming one of the conference’s top safeties. Oklahoma’s defense will rely heavily on his experience as the Sooners continue adapting to the week-to-week challenges of the SEC.
His versatility remains his greatest strength. Bowen can play deep safety, rotate into the slot, blitz off the edge and provide run support near the line of scrimmage. That flexibility allows Brent Venables to disguise coverages and create confusion for opposing quarterbacks.
The next step in Bowen’s development will be producing more takeaways. He has all the physical tools necessary to become an early draft pick next spring, but interceptions and forced turnovers are often what separate good defensive backs from great ones. If those numbers increase in 2026, Bowen could emerge as one of the nation’s most complete safeties.
Mizzou Matchup
The former five-star safety missed Oklahoma’s 2024 trip to Columbia because of injury, meaning he was forced to watch from the sideline as the Tigers pulled off a memorable victory over the Sooners.
When the teams met again in 2025, Bowen was healthy and on the field and turned in one of his quieter performances of the season. He finished with four tackles and a pass defended, but the modest stat line was more a reflection of Oklahoma’s defensive dominance than any shortcomings in his play. The Sooners controlled the line of scrimmage, consistently pressured Beau Pribula and largely eliminated Mizzou’s downfield passing attack. With the Tigers unable to generate explosive plays through the air, Bowen was rarely forced into the type of game-changing situations that often produce interceptions and highlight-reel plays.
That dynamic makes the Thanksgiving weekend matchup in Columbia especially interesting. Bowen remains one of the SEC’s most versatile defensive backs, and Mizzou’s offense will need to do a better job stressing Oklahoma vertically if it hopes to prevent the Sooners from dictating the game defensively.
For Chip Lindsey and Austin Simmons, identifying Bowen before the snap will be a priority. Oklahoma regularly aligns him in different spots throughout the secondary, allowing him to disguise coverages and bait quarterbacks into mistakes. His ability to rotate from deep safety to slot defender within the same series makes him one of the more difficult players in the conference to account for.
Mizzou’s best chance may be forcing Bowen to become a factor. That sounds counterintuitive, but the Tigers need to challenge Oklahoma’s secondary enough to make its star safety work. If Bowen spends another game simply cleaning up underneath throws while Oklahoma’s front controls the action, the Sooners will likely be pleased with the outcome. If Mizzou can stretch the field and create opportunities that force Bowen into difficult decisions, it may have a better chance of flipping the script in one of the season’s most anticipated SEC matchups.
