Sports
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss' appeal for 6th season denied by NCAA
Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) signals a first down after his run against the Miami Hurricanes during their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026. Trinidad Chambliss was already prepared for more bad news from the NCAA. On Wednesday, that news became official.
Ole Miss confirmed its star quarterback lost his appeal to the NCAA for sixth year of eligibility, meaning Chambliss’ next step will be in Mississippi state court.
The NCAA on Jan. 9 initially denied Chambliss’ request for a waiver to receive a medical redshirt after he argued that persistent respiratory issues prevented him from playing in 2022 when he was a redshirt freshman at Division II Ferris State.
His performance as an Ole Miss senior transfer in 2025 helped spark the 13-2 Rebels’ run to the College Football Playoff, which ended with a 31-27 semifinal loss to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8.
Part of the NCAA’s ruling in denying the appeal included the finding that adequate medical evidence from a treating physician wasn’t provided in the waiver request.
After the initial denial of the waiver, Chambliss’ attorneys filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, requesting an injunction that would allow Chambliss to play in 2026. Denial of the appeal was widely expected.
Ole Miss issued a statement after news of the ruling was made public Wednesday, stating in part, “The NCAA Athletics Eligibility Subcommittee’s decision to deny Trinidad’s appeal is indefensible in light of the undisputed facts. … he did not dress for a single game (in 2022) while suffering from severe, incapacitating medical conditions. Those conditions were fully and contemporaneously documented by his treating physician, yet this waiver request was still denied when it should have been approved at the NCAA staff level.”
The lawsuit filed on Chambliss’ behalf stated, “In Trinidad’s case, the NCAA failed in its mission to foster his well-being and development as a student-athlete. The mechanisms (i.e., waiver rules) for granting Trinidad an additional year of eligibility — so that he has the opportunity to compete in four years of college football — are available and within the NCAA’s control.
“Despite the duty of good faith and fair dealing it owes Trinidad, the NCAA insists on considering the evidence in Trinidad’s case in an isolated, rather than comprehensive, manner; interpreting its rules to impose requirements not contained therein; taking unreasonable if not irrational positions; and acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner in its decision-making and ruling.”
According to reports, Chambliss’ initial hearing for the injunction is expected to take place in Feb. 12 in Chancery Court of Lafayette County in Mississippi.
The Grand Rapids, Mich., product finished eighth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. He intended to return to Ole Miss next season had his waiver been approved, with ESPN reporting that his NIL deal with incentives to be worth more than $6 million.
If he ultimately does not get the sixth year, Chambliss would enter the NFL draft.
He threw for 3,937 yards (third in the nation) on 66.1% passing last season, with 22 touchdown tosses and three interceptions.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Anthony Roy, Oklahoma State outduel AJ Dybantsa, No. 16 BYU
Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Anthony Roy (9) celebrates a 3-point basket during a BIG 12 men’s college basketball game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the BYU Cougars at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. Anthony Roy scored a season-high 30 points and Jaylen Curry added 18 as Oklahoma State upset No. 16 BYU 99-92 on Wednesday in Stillwater, Okla.
The Cowboys (16-6, 4-5 Big 12) shot 54.7% from the field and forced 16 turnovers that resulted in 21 points. Oklahoma State’s Parsa Fallah added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Vyctorius Miller, who didn’t take a shot in the first half, scored 14 in the second half for the Cowboys on 5-of-7 shooting from the field.
AJ Dybantsa led the Cougars (17-5, 5-4) with 36 points, but he couldn’t keep BYU from losing its third straight game. Richie Saunders contributed 20 points and eight rebounds, and Robert Wright III put up 15 points.
The Cowboys led 74-69 with six minutes left in the game before they went on a 7-0 run to take control.
Roy scored on a layup and also hit a 3-pointer in the decisive sequence.
The Cowboys jumped out to a 15-point lead with 5:21 to go in the first half.
The Cougars turned the ball over nine times in the first 11 minutes as the Cowboys built a double-digit lead.
When Fallah sank a layup, the Cowboys led 37-22. The Cougars were shooting only 28.9% compared to the Cowboys’ 63.6%.
Dybantsa then heated up, and the Cougars finished the half on a 19-4 run, including an 8-0 surge in the final 3:07 to tie the score entering the break.
Saunders started the run with a 3-pointer to make it 37-24.
Dybantsa nailed back-to-back 3-pointers, and suddenly the 15-point lead was down to 37-31.
Isaiah Coleman hit a jumper and soon added a layup for Oklahoma State, but Dybantsa wasn’t done.
He started the final run by dribbling through the defense to dunk.
Saunders scored on a layup to make it 41-37 with 2:22 left.
Dybantsa then finished the half with two free throws and another dunk in which he dribbled past three defenders. The slam with three seconds left tied the game at 41.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Otega Oweh torments former team as Kentucky blasts Oklahoma
Feb 4, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Collin Chandler (5) looks to pass during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images Otega Oweh matched his season high with 24 points as Kentucky blew out Oklahoma 94-78 Wednesday night at home in Rupp Arena.
Kentucky (16-7, 7-3 Southeastern Conference) had one of its best offensive performances of the season, shooting 50.0% from the floor overall and 12-26 from beyond the arc in posting their sixth-best point total this year and highest in SEC play.
The Wildcats had 21 assists on 30 made field goals, with six players dishing out three or more assists. Denzel Aberdeen led the Wildcats with five assists.
It was a back-and-forth game for most of the first half, with Kentucky making its living from beyond the arc, going 9 of 16 from 3-point range.
Collin Chandler, who finished with 18 points, made three of Kentucky’s nine first-half 3-pointers, leading the Wildcats with nine points in the first half as Kentucky built a 43-32 advantage. Five Wildcats had at least six points in the first 20 minutes, and Kentucky had 11 assists on 14 made field goals in the first half.
After nearly 15 minutes, Kentucky’s defense settled in and held the Sooners without a field goal for the final 5:07 of the first half. Despite only two turnovers, Oklahoma (11-12, 1-9) only had five assists on 11 made field goals. Oklahoma shot just 11-30 from the field in the first half.
In the second half, Oklahoma never got closer than eight points as the Sooners suffered their ninth straight loss.
A former Sooner, Oweh revved up the engines in the second half with 18 points. Oweh finished with 20-plus points for the eighth time in 10 SEC games.
Oweh’s former rival turned teammate, Brandon Garrison, had his best game of the season. Garrison made a huge impact with a double-double, scoring 20 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. He was 7 of 8 from the field and 6 for 6 from the free-throw line, while also dishing out three assists.
The Wildcats have now won seven of eight since an 0-2 start in SEC play and have won 11 of 14 overall.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hawks could gain reinforcements as they prepare for Jazz
Dec 31, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis (8) shown before the start of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Hawks may get a lineup boost Thursday, but it isn’t likely to come from a last-minute trade.
The Hawks, who host the Utah Jazz on Thursday, could get veteran Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup. The veteran center, the team’s big offseason acquisition, has missed the last 13 games with left Achilles tendinitis but had his status upgraded to questionable Tuesday and could return for limited minutes.
Porzingis hasn’t played since Jan. 7. He has participated in only 17 of the team’s 52 games because of injuries and management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, an incurable condition that causes increased heart rate, dizziness and fatigue.
Porzingis has played well when in the lineup, averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists. His return would be especially welcome since Onyeka Okongwu is day-to-day after dental surgery following a nasty elbow in the mouth against Boston. The Hawks have been living with Mouhamed Gueye and Christian Koloko at center.
Atlanta ended a two-game losing streak Tuesday with an impressive 127-115 road win against Miami.
Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson is coming off his ninth triple-double of the season. Johnson, who was named to the NBA All-Star team, had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Heat.
“Jalen just continues to find, within the rhythm of the game, opportunities to get off the ball to be the open guy, and when he needs to be more aggressive and go to the basket. I just love that he’s not hesitating with the catch-and-shoot threes. I think that gives him space to play. Some of our other guys are getting more connected with him, too.”
Utah ended a six-game skid Tuesday by defeating the Indiana Pacers 131-122. The Jazz had only seven available players, and each scored in double figures. Utah played Tuesday without Keyonte George (ankle), Kevin Love (illness), Walker Kessler (shoulder) and Jusuf Nurkic (illness).
“Games like this are odd, playing with seven people and the lineups we had out there,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “But I thought the team had great energy, great camaraderie.”
Isaiah Collier played all 48 minutes and had a career-high 22 assists in the win, the most in the NBA this season and the most by a Jazz player since John Stockton on Dec. 18, 1992. The last player in the league with 22 assists was Denver’s Nilola Jokic last March 7.
“Isaiah, with 22 assists and only two turnovers, is a testament to him, it’s a testament to his teammates,” Hardy said. “Overall, he showed a lot of poise and maturity as a point guard.”
The game marks a homecoming for Utah rookie Ace Bailey, who grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and was Mr. Georgia Basketball in 2024. He is averaging 11.3 points and 3.6 rebounds and scored 19 on Tuesday.
This is the final meeting between the teams this season. The Hawks, who have won three straight against the Jazz, took the first game 132-122 on Nov. 13 in Salt Lake City. Johnson had a triple-double (31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists) and Okongwu had a career-high 32 points with eight 3-pointers.
–Field Level Media
Anthony Roy, Oklahoma State outduel AJ Dybantsa, No. 16 BYU
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