The Ole Miss Rebels apparently must be thankful that Trinidad Chambliss is returning, having been granted an extra year of eligibility from a judge at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Pittsboro, Mississippi.
Apparently, Auburn Tigers transfer Deuce Knight wouldn't have been able to handle the heat from the Rebels' conference schedule, or even its non-conference clash with an ACC team that went 4-4 in conference play last season.
USA Today's Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams collectively agreed that Knight would've had a tough time leading Ole Miss to victories over the Louisville Cardinals, LSU Tigers, Texas Longhorns, Georgia Bulldogs, and Oklahoma Sooners during the 2026 season.
"Ole Miss previously landed Deuce Knight, a transfer quarterback from Auburn. He’s a good portal pickup, but as a backup and a longer-term option. He’s untested," they wrote. "For 2026, Ole Miss needed Chambliss. Without him, a schedule that includes Louisville, LSU, Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma looked overwhelming. With Chambliss, it’s manageable.
"Pair Chambliss with the return of star running back Kewan Lacy and a strong portal class that ranks second only to what Kiffin assembled at LSU, and let the hype build for Ole Miss."
Deuce Knight showed in limited snaps at Auburn that he can be great
Even though Knight didn't play much, having 25 snaps in garbage time against the Ball State Cardinals and during his lone start against a game, but still an FCS, Mercer Bears, there was panic when he and Cam Coleman left the Plains for the transfer portal in January.
Ultimately, Auburn fans realized that the outgoing players were better off gone, considering the financial investments into them and the minimal return the Tigers received during the 2025 season. Knight, in particular, cost a lot and didn't see the field enough to justify it.
Still, in those appearances, Knight showed athletic potential that looked like it could produce greatness.
Toppmeyer and Adams' predictions don't mean that Knight couldn't be the answer under center for Ole Miss. No one saw Chambliss's rise coming. Austin Simmons was the guy everyone talked about and expected to carry the Rebels offense.
Maybe Knight will somehow get the chance to prove he is ready to be a QB1 in Oxford, Mississippi, and prove them wrong this fall.