Trinidad Chambliss carved up Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and college football fans immediately started questioning Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman win. The Ole Miss quarterback delivered his biggest game Thursday night in New Orleans, sparking a social media meltdown over who really deserved the trophy.
OptaSTATS posted numbers on X that stopped people in their tracks. No FBS quarterback had ever finished a year topping 3,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards while keeping interceptions under five and sacks under 15. Chambliss just did it.
Fans unloaded in the comments.
One blamed poor timing. “This is exactly why the Heisman and other awards, shouldn’t be given out until the season is COMPLETELY over. This is the true Heisman!”
This is exactly why the Heisman and other awards, shouldn’t be given out until the season is COMPLETELY over. This is the true Heisman!
— 〽️VaLiAnT ViCtOr〽️ (@JimsChickenCoop) January 2, 2026
Another trashed the winner. “And yet they gave the heisman to someone who had average stats lol. That award doesn’t mean anything anymore.”
And yet they gave the heisman to someone who had average stats lol. That award doesn’t mean anything anymore
— Pete Golding’s Nephew (@Rebelsharkbear) January 2, 2026
This user went after Lane Kiffin, the former Ole Miss coach who left the program for LSU. “Should have been in New York for the Heisman presentation, but @Lane_Kiffin makes everything about him! #JustDifferent”
Should have been in New York for the Heisman presentation, but @Lane_Kiffin makes everything about him! #JustDifferent
— JK (@vinjkot) January 2, 2026
One mentioned the games missed. “If only someone would have promoted him for a cool award. Same and better stats as all the other guys while playing 2 less games. Travesty”
If only someone would have promoted him for a cool award. Same and better stats as all the other guys while playing 2 less games. Travesty
— Keith Carter’s AAU Mixtape (@Year1Enthusiast) January 2, 2026
The direct approach. “He should’ve won the Heisman”
He should’ve won the Heisman
— Lane Kiffin is a HOE (@OMrebel_recruit) January 2, 2026
Another blamed coaching. “And the only reason he hasn’t been acknowledged more this season is because of the narcissistic ex-coach. He should’ve been a heisman contender”
And the only reason he hasn’t been acknowledged more this season is because of the narcissistic ex-coach. He should’ve been a heisman contender
— MayWB (@MayWB1980) January 2, 2026
This take called out priorities. “And Lane Kiffin didn’t do everything in his power to hype him up for the Heisman. Instead, he sat back and just enjoyed his personal circus, keeping his name in the headlines. Same thing with Kewan Lacy.”
And Lane Kiffin didn’t do everything in his power to hype him up for the Heisman. Instead, he sat back and just enjoyed his personal circus, keeping his name in the headlines. Same thing with Kewan Lacy.
— Joe (@JoeHeisman) January 2, 2026
And the context reminder. “Didn’t play the first two games too”
Didn’t play the first two games too
— Rigdon smisson (@Bigrigy55) January 2, 2026
Chambliss never made it to New York when December’s finalist ceremony happened. Now everyone’s second-guessing the voters.
Chambliss wanted payback after struggling late in their October meeting. The rematch went completely different. He threw a touchdown and conversion in the final period while piling up yards through the air.
The quarterback found his rhythm after halftime and stayed locked in during the third. His scrambling ability kept drives alive when Georgia brought pressure. He escaped the pocket multiple times early in the fourth, finding receivers while moving.
His deep shot late in the game positioned the kicker for the winner. Ole Miss moves on to meet Miami out west next week with a championship game berth at stake.
