Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar’s offseason Hail Mary fell incomplete.
A Knoxville, Tenn., judge denied Aguilar a preliminary injunction Friday, making him ineligible to play college football in 2026 without an unlikely successful appeal under a time crunch, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Aguilar, 24, argued that his seasons playing junior college football should not count toward his NCAA eligibility. He played one season at Tennessee, two at Appalachian State and two at Diablo Valley Community College in California.
“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,” the NCAA said in a statement, per ESPN. “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.”
Aguilar is expected to attend the NFL combine this week — which was his plan, whether the injunction was granted or not — but now all his focus is on the draft and a pro career.
He is a potential late-round pick whose stock might have benefited from a big season at Tennessee in 2026 — not to mention the reported “approximately $2 million” in NIL earnings that he would have received from another year on campus.
Aguilar won a training-camp competition last summer and threw for 3,656 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while leading the Volunteers to an 8-5 record.
The Tennessee quarterback depth chart is a mess for the second straight offseason after Nico Iamaleava’s untimely transfer to UCLA during spring practice last April.
A judge in Mississippi ruled last week that Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is eligible for a sixth season of NCAA eligibility in 2026 based on the grounds of receiving a medical redshirt.
