Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar Sues NCAA to Play One More Season
Joey Aguilar isn’t ready to hang up his college cleats just yet-and he’s willing to take the NCAA to court to keep playing.
After a breakout 2025 season under center for the Tennessee Volunteers, Aguilar is pushing for one more year of eligibility. According to a legal complaint filed on his behalf, the NCAA has denied him a fourth season at the Division I level. Now, Aguilar is suing the organization, arguing that he’s being unfairly sidelined-both on the field and financially.
The complaint lays it out plainly: “After a breakout season as the Volunteers’ quarterback in 2025, the NCAA is blocking Aguilar from playing a fourth year of Division I football - depriving Tennessee of a gifted quarterback and robbing Aguilar of millions in compensation.”
A Winding Road to Knoxville
Aguilar’s path to Tennessee has been anything but straightforward. He started his college career in 2019 at City College of San Francisco, where he redshirted.
In 2020, he didn’t play at all-the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then suited up for Diablo Valley College in 2021 and 2022 before making the jump to Division I football in 2023 at Appalachian State.
After two seasons with the Mountaineers, Aguilar transferred to Tennessee for the 2025 campaign.
That’s a lot of stops, and it’s at the heart of Aguilar’s legal case.
The Eligibility Fight
The NCAA’s position is that Aguilar has already used up his eligibility. But Aguilar’s legal team is challenging how the NCAA counts years spent at junior colleges. Essentially, he’s arguing that his early JUCO years-especially the redshirt year and the COVID-canceled season-shouldn’t count against him.
He’s not the first to take this route. The lawsuit appears to follow a similar blueprint to the one filed by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who challenged the NCAA’s JUCO eligibility rule on antitrust grounds. Aguilar’s team is leaning on that precedent in hopes of getting the green light to return for 2026.
“If the Court granted Aguilar relief from the NCAA’s JUCO rule in the near term, Tennessee has a spot for him on the roster and would welcome him back,” the complaint states. It also notes that Aguilar could earn approximately $2 million in compensation through NIL deals if he’s allowed to play another season.
Why It Matters for Tennessee
Tennessee went 8-5 last season with Aguilar as the starter, and he was a bright spot in an up-and-down campaign. He threw for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns, adding four more scores on the ground. Yes, he had 10 interceptions, but overall, he showed poise, arm talent, and the kind of leadership that’s hard to replace.
If Aguilar wins his case, Tennessee could bring back a proven quarterback with a full season in their system-a rare luxury in today’s transfer-heavy landscape. That kind of continuity at QB could be a major boost for the Vols heading into 2026.
But beyond Tennessee’s depth chart, this case could have broader implications for how the NCAA handles eligibility for players with unconventional paths. As more athletes navigate the JUCO route, redshirt years, and pandemic-related disruptions, Aguilar’s lawsuit could open the door for others in similar situations.
For now, it’s in the court’s hands. But one thing’s clear: Joey Aguilar isn’t done chasing his college football dream-and he’s willing to fight for the chance to finish it on his terms.