Lane Kiffin Weighs in on Tennessee QB's Eligibility Saga

The former Volunteers coach commented on Joey Aguilar's failed bid for an extra year of eligibility.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Former Tennessee football head coach Lane Kiffin weighed in on the recent decision denying Joey Aguilar's request for an additional year of eligibility. Kiffin referenced his former Ole Miss quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, who was represented by attorney Tom Mars and won his own eligibility case. However, Kiffin's comments were seen as unprompted trolling, as the cases between Aguilar and Chambliss were quite different. Kiffin's social media activity also included tagging the Ole Miss women's basketball coach, leading to further drama between the two coaches.

Why it matters

Kiffin's comments on Aguilar's eligibility case, despite not being directly involved, highlight the ongoing tensions and rivalries in college football, especially between Kiffin and the Tennessee program he briefly led. The social media back-and-forth with the Ole Miss women's basketball coach also demonstrates Kiffin's penchant for stirring up controversy, even when it may not be directly related to his own team.

The details

Aguilar was denied his request for a preliminary injunction to grant him an additional year of eligibility, arguing against the NCAA's rules that count time spent at the junior college level against a player's eligibility. In contrast, Kiffin's former Ole Miss quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, was represented by attorney Tom Mars and won his own eligibility case, which was based on a mishandled medical redshirt waiver. Kiffin's unprompted comments on Aguilar's case were seen as trolling, as the two situations were quite different.

  • On February 20, 2026, Lane Kiffin posted his comments on X about Joey Aguilar's eligibility decision.
  • On the same day, Kiffin also engaged in social media drama with Ole Miss women's basketball coach Yolett 'Coach Yo' McPhee-McCuin.

The players

Lane Kiffin

A former head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, who is currently the head coach at LSU.

Joey Aguilar

A quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers football team who was denied an additional year of eligibility.

Trinidad Chambliss

A former quarterback for Kiffin at Ole Miss, who was represented by attorney Tom Mars and won his own eligibility case.

Tom Mars

An attorney who represented Trinidad Chambliss in his successful eligibility case.

Yolett 'Coach Yo' McPhee-McCuin

The head coach of the Ole Miss women's basketball team, who engaged in social media drama with Kiffin.

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What they’re saying

“When you don't get @TomMarsLaw involved ……. 🇹🇹”

— Lane Kiffin (X)

“Have y'all ever heard of a football coach, tagging a WBB coach, after a game? This guy doesn't even like women's sports! Cope harder!”

— Yolett 'Coach Yo' McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss Women's Basketball Coach (X)

“the change you have brought to (Ole Miss women's basketball) is amazing!!! I remember the first year. You have built it into a premier program in the country!!!”

— Lane Kiffin (X)

What’s next

The judge's decision on whether to allow Joey Aguilar an additional year of eligibility is still pending.

The takeaway

Lane Kiffin's unprompted comments on Joey Aguilar's eligibility case, as well as his social media drama with the Ole Miss women's basketball coach, highlight the ongoing tensions and rivalries that exist in college football, even years after Kiffin's brief tenure as Tennessee's head coach. These incidents demonstrate Kiffin's penchant for stirring up controversy, even when it may not be directly related to his own team.