​Why Trinidad Chambliss didn’t follow Lane Kiffin to LSU originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The No. 7 LSU Tigers are set to take on the No. 8 Ole Miss Tigers on Saturday night, as Lane Kiffin will be coaching against his former team. In addition to several other former players and coaches, Kiffin will, for the first time, be coaching against his former Ole Miss quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss.Chambliss, who came to Ole Miss last season from DII Ferris State, decided to stay in Oxford for his final season of playing college football. But there was plenty of speculation that Chambliss would follow his former coach to LSU instead.Here’s a look at why Chambliss decided to stay at Ole Miss instead of LSU.MORE: Inside the hate, pain and extra security that await Lane Kiffin in OxfordWhy didn’t Trinidad Chambliss follow Lane Kiffin to LSU? Chambliss had a breakout season at Ole Miss last season. Despite initially starting the season behind Austin Simmons on the depth chart, Chambliss started in place of an injured Simmons during a Week 3 win over Arkansas.He never relinquished the starting job from there, throwing for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns and just three interceptions, as well as rushing for 527 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.Since Chambliss was already playing in his fifth season, his school filed a waiver with the NCAA on Nov. 16 for him to earn an additional season of eligibility. The request cited the medical redshirt he took at Ferris State in 2022 stemming from respiratory issues that led to surgery to remove his tonsils.After Kiffin’s dramatic exit from Ole Miss to LSU following the Rebels’ Egg Bowl victory, Chambliss remained with the Rebels, preparing for their first-ever CFP berth under newly named head coach Pete Golding.Kiffin had his introductory press conference at LSU on Dec. 1, nearly three weeks before the Rebels were set to host No. 11 Tulane in the first round. Ole Miss won 41-10 at home and was set to face No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.Chambliss sliced through the Dawgs’ defense during an incredible 39-34 victory over the Dawgs, who beat Ole Miss during the regular season. Chambliss threw for a season-high 362 yards with two touchdowns in the win.Players who made deep playoff runs were given a two-week window to enter the transfer portal. Ole Miss’ season went through Jan. 8, as Chambliss’ team just barely lost to Miami in the CFP Semifinal. Two days before the game, Chambliss had already announced he was returning to Ole Miss in 2026, if granted a sixth year.Unsurprisingly, Kiffin apparently was trying to recruit Chambliss to LSU in the weeks he left Oxford.  According to an On3Sports report from May, Chambliss admits there “were discussions” between he and LSU.”I had just transferred here,” Chambliss said of weighing his options. “My offensive coordinator was Coach (Charlie) Weis. I had just learned that system.