Tennessee Quarterback Joey Aguilar Wins Key Court Battle Against NCAA

Tennessee football fans are on the edge of their seats this February as quarterback Joey Aguilar’s eligibility battle with the NCAA takes a dramatic turn. On February 4, 2026, Chancellor Christopher Heagerty of the Knox County Chancery Court granted Aguilar a 15-day temporary restraining order against the NCAA, opening the door for him to potentially return as the Volunteers’ starting quarterback for the 2026 season. The ruling, which prohibits the NCAA from restricting Aguilar’s eligibility based on his junior college football history, marks a significant—if temporary—victory for the senior signal-caller and the Tennessee program.

Aguilar’s journey to this pivotal moment has been nothing short of remarkable. The 24-year-old quarterback began his college football career in 2019 by redshirting at City College of San Francisco. The following year, the COVID-19 pandemic canceled his season, delaying his on-field debut. Aguilar then played two seasons (2021 and 2022) at Diablo Valley Community College in California, starting five games his first year and six the next. He transferred to Appalachian State, making his Division I debut in 2023 and playing through the 2024 season. In 2025, Aguilar moved to Tennessee, where he completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns, leading the SEC in passing yards and placing third in single-season history for the Volunteers. He also added four rushing touchdowns, guiding Tennessee to an 8-5 record.

Despite his standout performance, Aguilar’s eligibility for the 2026 season came under scrutiny due to an NCAA rule that counts junior college seasons toward the four-year eligibility limit for Division I athletes. Aguilar argues that his two seasons at Diablo Valley should not count against his NCAA eligibility clock, contending that junior colleges are not NCAA institutions and, therefore, their seasons shouldn’t factor into the equation. The stakes are high—not just for Aguilar’s football future, but also for his financial prospects. According to court filings, if Aguilar is granted another year, his compensation through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals could reach approximately $2 million.

Aguilar initially joined a high-profile federal lawsuit led by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, which challenges the NCAA’s policy on junior college seasons and eligibility. Pavia’s case made waves when a preliminary injunction enabled him to play for Vanderbilt in the 2025 season, and the NCAA responded by issuing a blanket waiver that granted an extra year of eligibility to former junior college players in similar situations. However, Aguilar withdrew from the federal case in January 2026, citing the need for a more focused approach, and filed his own lawsuit in Tennessee state court. His complaint argued that the NCAA’s “JUCO rule” violated the Tennessee Trade Practices Act and that continued uncertainty over his eligibility would cause irreparable harm to his preparation for the 2026 season or the NFL draft.

Chancellor Heagerty’s ruling was rooted in four key findings: Aguilar demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of his claim; immediate and irreparable injury would result if the restraining order wasn’t issued; the balance of harms favored Aguilar, as the NCAA would suffer no harm by allowing him to play a fourth full season; and no adequate legal remedy existed due to the time-sensitive nature of the situation. As Heagerty wrote, “Each day that passes leaves Aguilar unable to prepare and jeopardizes major career opportunities, lost time and opportunities that cannot be fully calculated or remedied with money damages.”

The NCAA, for its part, continues to push back against Aguilar’s suit and others like it. In a statement following the restraining order, the association said, “This outcome—after the plaintiff withdrew from a federal lawsuit and separately filed a lawsuit in state court with the exact same facts—illustrates the impossible situation created by differing court decisions that serve to undermine rules agreed to by the same NCAA members who later challenge them in court. We will continue to defend the NCAA’s eligibility rules against repeated attempts to rob high school students of the opportunity to compete in college and experience the life-changing opportunities only college sports can create. The NCAA and its member schools are making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes, but the patchwork of state laws and inconsistent, conflicting court decisions make partnering with Congress essential to provide stability for all college athletes.”

Aguilar’s case is not the only one making headlines this month. Similar eligibility lawsuits are being heard across the country, including those involving Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako. Notably, the federal lawsuit led by Diego Pavia, now entering its next phase with a hearing scheduled for February 10, could have broader implications for former junior college athletes nationwide. Still, Aguilar’s legal team argued that a decision in Pavia’s case would come too late for the quarterback to plan his future, necessitating the swift action in Tennessee state court.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has thrown his support behind Aguilar, filing a court brief that underscores the importance of a timely decision. “UT would love to have Aguilar back for the upcoming 2026 season,” Heupel wrote. “But UT needs to know whether he will be eligible. It is essential for Joey, his coaches and teammates, and for UT to all know the status of his eligibility as soon as possible.” Heupel’s perspective is especially relevant given his own experience as a former junior college quarterback before transferring to Oklahoma and leading the Sooners to a national championship in 2000. “I am familiar with the NCAA’s eligibility rules, including NCAA Bylaws that restrict the duration of a student-athlete’s eligibility to compete for four seasons within a five-year period and the ‘counting’ of time spent at junior colleges, which are non-NCAA institutions, toward the total eligibility time,” Heupel noted.

The implications of Aguilar’s case for Tennessee football are considerable. Without him, the Volunteers’ quarterback depth chart would rely on inexperienced options such as redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub. None have the proven track record or familiarity with the offensive system that Aguilar brings. As the complaint points out, “If the Court granted Aguilar relief from the NCAA’s JUCO rule in the near term, Tennessee has a spot for him on the roster and would welcome him back. His compensation for playing college football in 2026 would be approximately $2 million.”

Aguilar is currently enrolled at Tennessee, according to a university spokesperson, and is expected to recover soon from a minor surgery to remove a benign tumor on his arm. Spring practice is set to begin March 16, and the quarterback’s presence—or absence—will shape the Volunteers’ outlook for the 2026 campaign. The next step in Aguilar’s legal journey is a preliminary injunction hearing, with a decision expected as early as February 6. Should he prevail, Tennessee could see its offensive fortunes rise, potentially pushing the team out of the SEC’s middle tier and into playoff contention.

For now, the action shifts from the gridiron to the courtroom. The outcome of Joey Aguilar’s eligibility battle remains in flux, but one thing’s for sure: the Volunteers, their fans, and college football observers everywhere will be watching closely as the legal clock ticks down.