College coach says Lane Kiffin gets 'too much credit' for Trinidad Chambliss' meteoric rise in 2025, and he may be right

Former Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin played a key role in the meteoric rise of senior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, but let's not give him too much credit.

Chambliss, who transferred from Division II school Ferris State to Ole Miss before the 2025 season, replaced former five-star recruit Austin Simmons (now with the Missouri Tigers) after he suffered a left ankle injury in Week 2. The QB then made it apparent the job was his. 

Chambliss led Ole Miss to a 13-2 record and the College Football Playoff, finishing third in the nation in passing yards (3,937) and fifth in QBR (86.5). The QB will aim to keep ascending in 2026 without Kiffin (LSU Tigers). Some believe he will. 

Why Trinidad Chambliss can still flourish without Lane Kiffin 

"He's a dude," an SEC coach told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg for a story published Monday. "Lane probably gets too much credit for Trinidad." 

Chambliss showed he can succeed without Kiffin during last season's CFP. The coach left for LSU just before the start of the postseason, and the school denied his request to coach the Rebels in the tournament. Despite the off-field drama, the QB thrived on the sport's biggest stage. 

In three CFP games, Chambliss completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 921 yards and four touchdown passes. This run included a 39-34 upset over the Georgia Bulldogs in the quarterfinal. Bulldogs HC Kirby Smart is considered a defensive wizard, which made the performance even more impressive. 

The Ringer's Todd McShay, a longtime NFL Draft guru, recently said Chambliss' tape against Georgia in the CFP is the best game of any QB he has studied in the 2027 class, as he displayed elite confidence and playmaking ability. Another coach saw the same traits when watching Chambliss.