NCAA gets much-needed win in Joey Aguilar eligibility case

By Chris Marler

A little over a week ago a judge in Mississippi ruled Trinidad Chambliss would be granted another year of eligibility. Shortly before the judge announced his ruling in Pittsboro, Mississippi the NCAA’s lawyers left the courthouse to ensure they’d make it to Knoxville in time for their next hearing. That of course was over Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar seeking another year of eligibility. 

Aguilar was seeking a seventh year of eligibility through a preliminary injunction in Knoxville. Despite enrolling in college in the Fall of 2019, Aguilar was hoping for a final year of college football. That request was denied by a Knox County judge. 

BREAKING: Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar’s request for a preliminary injunction, giving him another season of eligibility, was denied in court Friday, @clowfb reports❌ https://t.co/L7zbr8RyWJ pic.twitter.com/IUC4OqatKF

— On3 (@On3) February 20, 2026

After watching the charade of legal proceedings in Mississippi, it was refreshing to see some normalcy take place. It was also nice to see logic prevail and some guardrails finally be put in place for a sport that is changing at a pace more rapid than governing bodies can keep up with. 

“We didn’t know who he was until Nico left and he came and it was wonderful, but it doesn’t mean we break the rules — it doesn’t mean the Vols get something everyone else doesn’t,” NCAA attorney Taylor Askew said in last week’s injunction hearing.

It was the 57th eligibility lawsuit filed against the NCAA, and became the 31st one to be denied. Of those 57 cases just 12 injunctions have been granted. 

Aguilar’s case was less similar to Chambliss and more comparable to Diego Pavia. The case was rooted in the argument that his time at JUCO should not count against his NCAA eligibility since JUCO schools are not under the same governing umbrella of the NCAA’s Division I, Division II, and Division III.

Comparing the two cases is almost as foolish as comparing their skill sets. It’s apples and oranges. Or in this case, Rebels and Big Oranges. Now, the 24 year old will do what most 24 year-olds do after college – go interview for a job. That process will begin in Indianapolis next week at the NFL Combine. 

For Tennessee, the competition for 2026 is open, and gives Josh Heupel something he wanted even more than Aguilar coming back – an answer. Now he knows where to begin in preparing for next season. Tennessee actively sought a quarterback in this year’s transfer portal. They struck out on Sam Leavitt who ended up at LSU, but they did land Ryan Staub from Colorado. He will be one of the three quarterbacks battling for QB1 next season along with second year player George MacIntyre and true freshman Faison Brandon.