Joey Aguilar Eligibility Hearing May Redefine College Football Rules

In Tennessee, quarterback Joey Aguilar has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA to secure an additional year of eligibility, following a precedent set by players like Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia. Aguilar's case challenges the NCAA's counting of junior college (JUCO) seasons within the standard four-year eligibility period. Aguilar's college football journey began in 2019 at City College of San Francisco, where he redshirted, followed by playing at Diablo Valley College and Appalachian State University. In 2025, Aguilar transferred to UCLA and then to the University of Tennessee, where he passed for 3,565 yards.

Aguilar has spent seven years in college, seeking an eighth, which raises questions about the NCAA's eligibility rules. The NCAA attorney argued that Aguilar's position, if accepted, could lead to scenarios where players could extend their college careers significantly beyond the traditional timeframe. The case is being closely watched as it could set a new precedent for eligibility in college sports. Both the pres