Tennessee’s quarterback plan for 2026 changed in court, not on the practice field.
A Knox County Chancery Court judge denied Joey Aguilar’s request for an injunction that would have allowed him to return for another season, ending his bid to stay eligible for the Volunteers this fall. Chancellor Christopher D. Heagerty also dissolved a temporary restraining order he had granted earlier in the case on Feb. 4.
Aguilar had argued that his junior college years should not count against his NCAA eligibility. His path included a redshirt season at City College of San Francisco in 2019, a canceled 2020 season during the coronavirus pandemic, two years at Diablo Valley Community College in 2021 and 2022, two seasons at Appalachian State in 2023 and 2024, and then Tennessee in 2025.
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The court did not agree with Aguilar’s request for temporary relief.
Heagerty laid out the factors Tennessee courts consider in injunction decisions, including irreparable harm, the balance of harms, the likelihood of success on the merits, and the public interest. He noted Aguilar’s lawyers argued the quarterback could lose $2 million to $3 million in name, image and likeness opportunities if he cannot play in 2026, but the judge said granting the request could create broader problems for NCAA eligibility enforcement.
Heagerty wrote that granting an injunction “could cause sweeping implications and cause significant ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the eligibility rules of the NCAA.” He also said Aguilar “has a low likelihood to succeed on the merits of his claim.”
The NCAA praised the ruling in a statement: “The NCAA is thankful for the judge’s decision today, which demonstrates the court’s consideration of eligibility standards and protecting access to the collegiate experience for current and future student-athletes. We will continue to defend the NCAA’s eligibility rules against attempts to circumvent foundational policies and hinder fair competition to all student-athletes. The NCAA is making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes and will continue to work with Congress to provide stability for all college athletes.”
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The decision is a major blow to Aguilar’s attempt to stay in Knoxville for a second season. On the field, Tennessee now has to replace a productive starter. Aguilar completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,565 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2025. He finished third in the SEC in passing yards and led an offense that scored 39.8 points per game.
That production matters because Tennessee entered the offseason with Aguilar as the most experienced option. Without him, the quarterback room shifts to younger players and a transfer. George MacIntyre, a redshirt freshman, played in only two games last season and completed seven of nine passes for 69 yards. Tennessee also has true freshman Faizon Brandon, a five star recruit from the 2026 class who was rated the No. 3 player nationally and the No. 3 quarterback in his class, plus Colorado transfer Ryan Staub.
The ruling also lands in the middle of a broader wave of NCAA eligibility lawsuits. In a separate case, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss received a preliminary injunction from a Mississippi judge that could allow him to play this fall. Chambliss’s case was different because he argued he was healthy enough to play for only three of his five college years. Court records cited in the Tennessee case show 57 eligibility lawsuits have been filed nationwide, with 31 preliminary injunctions denied and 12 granted.
For Tennessee, the immediate issue is not the national litigation trend. It is quarterback reps, roster planning, and how quickly the program can settle on a starter for 2026.
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