Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is taking his fight for one more year of college football eligibility to court - and the outcome could have a major impact on the Volunteers’ 2026 season.
Aguilar has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Knox County Chancery Court, requesting a temporary restraining order that would allow him to rejoin Tennessee’s roster while the legal process plays out. At the heart of the case is Aguilar’s argument that his two seasons of junior college football should not count against his NCAA eligibility clock. If granted relief, Aguilar would return for a second season in Knoxville and a fourth year at the FBS level.
This isn’t just about football - it’s also about the financial opportunity Aguilar stands to lose. The lawsuit claims that if he’s allowed to play in 2026, Aguilar could earn approximately $2 million in NIL compensation. That figure underscores how the eligibility rules don’t just affect playing time; they directly impact athletes’ livelihoods in today’s college football landscape.
According to the complaint, Tennessee is ready to welcome him back if the court rules in his favor. The Volunteers have a spot open, and Aguilar’s return would immediately raise the ceiling for a team looking to take the next step in a competitive SEC.
Aguilar’s eligibility situation is a complex one, shaped by a winding path through college football. He redshirted in 2019 at City College of San Francisco, didn’t play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 shutdown, and then started 11 games over two seasons at Diablo Valley College before transferring to Appalachian State in 2023. After a strong debut in the Sun Belt, he transferred to Tennessee, where he made an immediate impact.
In 2025, Aguilar led the SEC in passing yards per game and threw for 3,565 yards - the third-highest single-season total in Tennessee history. He added 24 touchdown passes and four rushing scores, guiding the Vols to an 8-5 finish. That kind of production is hard to replace, and Tennessee knows it.
If Aguilar is cleared to play, his presence would bring stability and veteran leadership to a quarterback room that currently leans young and untested. Without him, the Vols would likely turn to either George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon - both talented, but inexperienced. Ryan Staub, a transfer from Colorado, is also in the mix, but doesn’t offer the same upside or familiarity with the system that Aguilar brings.
Aguilar’s return would give Tennessee a proven leader under center and a quarterback who already knows the offense. That kind of continuity is rare in today’s transfer-heavy world, and it could be the difference between another middle-of-the-pack SEC finish and a real push toward the College Football Playoff.
This case also connects to a broader legal challenge involving former junior college players. Aguilar was originally a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit led by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, which contests the NCAA’s rule that JUCO seasons count toward the five-year eligibility limit.
Aguilar has since withdrawn from that case and is now pursuing his own legal path in state court. Meanwhile, the federal case - which includes over 25 plaintiffs - is set for a hearing on February 10, where a judge will consider whether to halt the NCAA’s junior college rule.
Even if the federal court rules against Pavia and the other plaintiffs, Aguilar could still win his own case and secure eligibility through the state court. But if the federal court grants the injunction, it could set a precedent that benefits not just Aguilar, but any former JUCO player who hasn’t yet played four years at the Division I level.
At 25 years old, Aguilar is at a crossroads. He’s seeking a quick resolution - either to rejoin the Vols for spring practice or to begin preparing for the NFL Draft. What happens next won’t just shape his future - it could reshape Tennessee’s season and add another chapter to the ongoing battle between athletes and the NCAA’s eligibility rules.