Tennessee QB Gains Temporary Order Against NCAA Eligibility Rules

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Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar has been granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA's eligibility rules, allowing him 15 days to practice while he fights for an extra year of playing time. Aguilar's lawsuit argues that his years playing in junior college should not count against his Division I eligibility, and if successful, would grant him a sixth season overall and fourth at the D-I level.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between student-athletes, the NCAA, and the courts over eligibility rules, particularly for players who have competed at the junior college level before transferring to Division I programs. The outcome could set a precedent for similar cases and impact the careers of other players in comparable situations.

The details

Aguilar filed his own lawsuit, separating himself from a previous suit filed by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia that challenged an NCAA rule counting junior college seasons against Division I eligibility. Pavia won a preliminary injunction in 2024 allowing him to play for Vanderbilt in 2025, though the NCAA appealed the ruling. The NCAA later issued a blanket waiver granting an extra year of eligibility to former junior college players in similar situations.

• On February 4, 2026, a judge granted Aguilar a temporary restraining order against the NCAA's eligibility rules.
• Aguilar now has 15 days to practice while he continues fighting for an extra year of playing time.

What’s next

The judge in Aguilar's case will decide whether to extend the temporary restraining order or issue a preliminary injunction that would allow him to continue practicing and playing while the lawsuit proceeds.