Sports

NCAA Blasts Tennessee Judge’s Ruling As Vols QB Cheats System In Search Of 8th Season

#Joey Aguilar
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Tennessee Volunteers QB Aguilar

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Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is fighting for an additional season of college football. He took the first step forward thanks to a lawsuit against the NCAA.

The passer was granted a restraining order that grants temporary eligibility as his battle wages on. The NCAA responded in disgust upon hearing the ruling.

Aguilar has been in college for seven years. He will turn 25 years old this offseason.

The signal caller’s journey has not been typical. He enrolled at community college in 2019 where he redshirted. The next year, his school cancelled the season amid the COVID pandemic.

He nearly quit football before playing a down with his first school to become a firefighter. Instead, he opted to continue on with a new team.

Aguilar’s transferred three times (four if you include a brief stint at UCLA). Now, he competes at the highest level. It’s an underdog story of sorts as he’s made his way to the SEC.

With that said, not everyone agrees that his story should continue, at least not in the college game. Take a look at his timeline below.

2019: City of San Francisco College (redshirt)
2020: City of San Franciso College (cancelled)
2021: Diablo Valley
2022: Diablo Valley
2023: Appalachian State
2024: Appalachian State
2025: Tennessee

Aguilar argues that his JUCO stints should not be held against him. Much like Diego Pavia, he sued the NCAA in hopes of returning to the Vols.

Joey Aguilar was granted a TRO.

That restraining order temporarily grants him eligibility though an injunction is still to follow. The TRO case caused an uproar due to possible conflict of interest.

Aguilar removed himself from the Pavia lawsuit to challenge directly in Knoxville. In doing so, he received a local judge with Tennessee ties.

(Chris Heagerty) received his bachelor’s and law degrees from Tennessee. He has also been an adjunct professor at the school since 2023.

Chris Heagarty is a two-time UT grad, though it’s unclear if he’s a football donor given the university’s decision to keep donations out of public record.

Many around the state were upset with a similar scenario that played out at Alabama with basketball player Charles Bediako. In both cases, the desired outcome was received.

Aguilar was granted his TRO. Soon after, the NCAA responded.

NCAA blasts decision of local judge.

“This… illustrates the impossible situation created by differing court decisions that serve to undermine rules agreed to by the same NCAA members who later challenge them in court,” the association released in a statement.

“We will continue to defend the NCAA’s eligibility rules against repeated attempts to rob high school students of the opportunity to compete in college.”

The NCAA called out Joey Aguilar’s decision to leave a federal case in order to file in state court. He cheated the system, though he’s not the first.

He won’t be the last, either, as the introduction of NIL further clouds the definition of eligibility.

With all of that being said, Aguilar’s playing status for 2026 is not yet set in stone. He has another hurdle to jump, but this was a step in the right direction.