Joey Aguilar reportedly denied 2026 eligibility, what's next for Tennessee at quarterback
CBS Sports
by
Robby Kalland
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar has been dealt a significant blow as a Knoxville judge denied his request for a preliminary injunction to challenge his NCAA eligibility status. This ruling likely means Aguilar will not be able to play for the Volunteers in 2026, marking a major victory for the NCAA following several high-profile eligibility cases. Unlike Ole Miss star Trinidad Chambliss, who successfully argued for an additional year of eligibility due to health issues, Aguilar's legal team attempted to have his junior college years excluded from his eligibility calculations. However, this approach was unsuccessful, leaving his future with Tennessee in doubt.
Aguilar's case hinged on the argument that his time at City College of San Francisco and Diablo Valley College should not count toward his NCAA eligibility. Despite spending four years in junior colleges before transferring to Appalachian State, Aguilar's legal challenge ultimately failed to secure a temporary injunction, which would have allowed him to play while his case was appealed. This outcome raises questions about how the NCAA handles transfer cases and highlights the challenges athletes face when seeking exceptions to eligibility rules
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/20/2026