Ole Miss wasn’t supposed to win the Sugar Bowl. They were down 6 to 21 at the half against the Georgia Bulldogs, who had commanded the game up to this point. The #3 Bulldogs were also seeded higher than the #6 Rebels. Destiny seemed to be determined. But when both teams returned to the field, Ole Miss came back with a vengeance. They scored 7 in the third quarter. Then their offense, led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, exploded in the 4^th quarter, scoring 20 points. By the end of the game, the once dominant Bulldogs had lost 34 to 39.

Much of the victory was due to Chambliss, who made crucial plays when it really mattered. But when the game was over, he sought Georgia’s quarterback, Gunner Stockton, and embraced Stockton, giving him a handshake. When ESPN interviewed Chambliss about the major comeback, Chambliss remained humble. “Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, through and through – He’s been with me [through the] ups and downs. I just got to give thanks to God. It’s been an amazing, amazing journey,” said Chambliss. “I’ve got to give thanks to the Oxford community – Ole Miss – for giving me the opportunity to play here.” He and his mother have a pregame ritual where they hug and pray together before every game. His mother wasn’t far from his mind, either, after the win. “She’s probably crying right now, honestly. But she’s pretty proud right now, I bet so. I’ve got to find her,” he said.

Chambliss’s football career has been something of a Cinderella story, with Chambliss remaining grounded in his faith. He was relatively unknown when he transferred to Ole Miss in May as a backup quarterback. His opportunity to start came after week 2 when starting quarterback Austin Simmon suffered an ankle injury. After that, he led Ole Miss to its best season ever, 13-1. Chambliss announced his intentions to return to Ole Miss for next season. “This season has meant so much to me, especially because of the brothers I get to line up with every day and the unwavering support of the Oxford community. My teammates are family, and together we share a common goal, to bring a championship home to Ole Miss,” wrote Chambliss. “While the process is still ongoing, there is no place I’d rather be than finishing my college football career in Oxford.” Chambliss’s return to Ole Miss is dependent on the NCAA approving his waiver for a sixth season of eligibility. In the meantime, Ole Miss will prepare to face off against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl and January 8 at 7:30 ET.