The eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA taken on by Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar has hit a significant roadblock. A Knoxville judge denied a preliminary injunction, which poses a substantial challenge to Aguilar’s prospects of playing for the Volunteers in 2026. This outcome signals a notable triumph for the NCAA, which has faced a series of defeats in recent eligibility disputes.
Aguilar aimed to replicate the success ofOle Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who secured a temporary injunction from a Mississippi court earlier this month. However, the circumstances surrounding Aguilar’s case differ from Chambliss’, who effectively argued for an extra year of eligibility due to a health issue he encountered in 2022.
In Aguilar’s case, his legal team argued that his junior college tenures at City College of San Francisco (2019-20) and Diablo Valley College (2021-22) should not influence his NCAA eligibility. However, this argument did not prove persuasive enough to secure the same outcome as Chambliss, who will continue to play at Ole Miss. Unless there is an expedited appeal that alters the decision, Aguilar will not don a Volunteer uniform this fall.
Analyzing the QBs: The Challenge for Tennessee
The absence of Aguilar will force Tennessee to fill the void left by one of the SEC’s top-performing quarterbacks from last season. Aguilar completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025, positioning him as one of the leading returning QBs for the upcoming season.
Despite Tennessee’s efforts to recruit a marquee name from the transfer portal, they fell short as they pursued Sam Leavitt, who eventually committed to LSU. As a result, the Volunteers will now look to untested young talents, making for an intriguing quarterback battle during spring training.
Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, who only saw action in two games last season, joins true freshman Faizon Brandon—a five-star recruit from the class of 2026, recognized as the No. 3 player nationally and the No. 3 quarterback—as the most compelling candidates. Alongside them is Colorado transfer Ryan Staub. MacIntyre, with a modest tally of completing seven of nine passes for 69 yards in his brief appearances last year, brings a certain familiarity with Coach Josh Heupel’s system, which could give him a slight advantage over the inexperienced Brandon.
For a Tennessee squad that aspires to contend for a College Football Playoff berth in 2026, Aguilar’s departure places tremendous pressure on their young quarterback unit. The urgency now lies not only with these young quarterbacks to adapt rapidly but also with Coach Heupel to make a pivotal choice between two promising newcomers.
