Chandler Morris threw for 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns last season and led the Cavaliers to the ACC championship game against Duke. Dustin Markland / Getty Images
Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris’ lawsuit seeking a seventh year of eligibility was denied a preliminary injunction Thursday, a representative for Morris confirmed, marking a legal win for the NCAA.
Morris, who led Virginia to the ACC championship game last year, also spent the 2020 season at Oklahoma, 2021-23 at TCU and the 2024 season at North Texas. His first season didn’t count toward eligibility as a COVID-19 waiver, and he was redshirted in 2021. Through the lawsuit, Morris sought a medical redshirt for the 2022 season on mental health grounds.
Morris, now 25, started the 2022 season opener at TCU before exiting in the third quarter with a knee injury. He returned in November and played sparingly in three games as a backup to new starter Max Duggan, who helped lead TCU to the national championship game.
Morris’ lawyers claimed there was sufficient mental health documentation submitted to the NCAA along with his eligibility waiver. The NCAA argued it did not produce enough evidence.
“The NCAA is pleased by the court’s decision today, which protects the integrity of collegiate competition,” the NCAA said in a statement. “As additional lawsuits challenging common-sense, academically-tied eligibility rules are filed, the NCAA will continue to defend against attempts to rob high school students across the nation of the opportunity to compete in college and experience the life-changing opportunities only college sports can create.”
Of the 71 eligibility lawsuits filed against the NCAA for eligibility, 33 preliminary injunctions have been denied, 12 are pending, 13 have been voluntarily dismissed, and 13 have been granted.
It’s not immediately clear if Morris will pursue an appeal or if the larger case will continue, given the timing with the NFL Draft and rookie free agent signing period coming later this month.
The Cavaliers added transfer quarterbacks Beau Pribula from Missouri and Eli Holstein from Pitt to fill Morris’ spot this offseason.
This story will be updated.
Apr 2, 2026
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