QB Aguilar's Final Season Hopes Denied by Court

A Knox County Chancery Court judge has denied quarterback Joey Aguilar's bid for an injunction that would have allowed him to play for the Tennessee Volunteers this fall. The decision, made on Friday, means Aguilar will not receive a fourth year of Division I eligibility.

Aguilar, who transferred to Tennessee after playing at Appalachian State and junior college, had sought to have his junior college years excluded from his eligibility count. His legal team argued he could lose $2 million to $3 million in name, image, and likeness opportunities by not playing.

Chancellor Christopher D. Heagerty ruled against the injunction, citing the potential for "sweeping implications" and "significant ambiguity" regarding NCAA eligibility rules. He also noted that Aguilar had a "low likelihood to succeed on the merits of his claim."

The NCAA expressed gratitude for the decision, stating it upholds eligibility standards and protects the collegiate experience for athletes. The organization plans to continue defending its policies against attempts to circumvent them.