In a courtroom twist that could impact Virginia football, Chandler Morris, the former quarterback, faced a setback in his quest for a seventh year of eligibility. With Virginia’s head coach Tony Elliott looking on, a Charlottesville Circuit Court judge denied Morris a temporary injunction on Thursday, keeping him sidelined from returning to the Cavaliers' lineup.
Morris, accompanied by his father Chad-Clemson’s offensive coordinator-had been gearing up for a potential comeback with Virginia if the NCAA had granted him another year. This decision now clears the path for transfers Beau Pribula from Missouri and Eli Holstein from Pitt to battle it out for the starting quarterback position this spring.
At 25, Morris has had quite the collegiate journey, playing at Oklahoma in 2020, TCU from 2021 to 2023, North Texas in 2024, and finally Virginia in 2025. The crux of his legal argument centered around the 2022 season.
That year, Morris secured the starting role in fall camp but suffered an injury in the opening game. He didn't see significant action again until later in the season, mostly during non-critical moments, which he argued affected his mental health.
Adding another layer to the drama, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips submitted an affidavit opposing Morris’s request for an additional year. This opposition likely didn't do Morris any favors in court.
With this ruling, Virginia’s quarterback situation is a bit clearer as they prepare for the upcoming season. The focus now shifts to how Pribula and Holstein will shape up in their quest to lead the Cavaliers.