{"id":765498,"date":"2026-02-20T22:45:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T22:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/765498\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T22:45:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T22:45:22","slug":"ncaa-releases-statement-on-joey-aguilar-situation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/765498\/","title":{"rendered":"NCAA releases statement on Joey Aguilar situation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar filed a lawsuit against the NCAA<\/a> seeking an additional year of college football eligibility, which was denied by a judge on Friday. The NCAA has since issued an official statement thanking the court for the decision.<\/p>\n

The association thanked the deciding judge<\/a> for upholding its \u201cfair competition\u201d policies to protect its student-athletes. It also vowed to continue \u201cmaking changes to deliver more benefits\u201d to the athletes to create a more agreeable environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe NCAA is thankful for the judge’s decision today which demonstrates the court’s consideration of eligibility standards and protecting access to the collegiate experience for current and future student-athletes,\u201d the statement read, via Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. \u201cWe will continue to defend the NCAA’s eligibility rules against attempts to circumvent foundational policies and hinder fair competition to all student-athletes. The NCAA is making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes and will continue to work with Congress to provide stability for all college athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n

NCAA statement on the Joey Aguilar decision pic.twitter.com\/C3EVwc0bEa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Aguilar’s push for an additional year of eligibility was based on the claim that he had played only three years at the Division I FBS level. The 24-year-old has spent the last seven years playing college football, but his first four seasons were in junior college.<\/p>\n

After two years at Appalachian State, Aguilar threw for 3,565 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with the Volunteers in 2025. Tennessee has been banking on his potential return for the 2026 college football season, only recruiting one quarterback, ex-Colorado starter Ryan Staub<\/a>, in the transfer portal.<\/p>\n

Several other players are pushing the same clause after Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia initiated a wide-scale lawsuit in 2025. Pavia gained an additional year out of it and continues to lead the effort in court while preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n