Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is seemingly in his last year of college eligibility and preparing for the final games of his college career and lone season at Knoxville. But there’s an outside chance that Aguilar could receive one more season of eligibility.
Aguilar is a new plaintiff in Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s lawsuit that seeks to abolish the NCAA’s current JUCO eligibility rules, Front Office Sports Amanda Christovich reported Friday afternoon.
The current NCAA bylaws count years played at the junior college level against a players NCAA eligibility. Pavia originally sued the NCAA last December and won a preliminary injunction which led the NCAA to granting former JUCO athletes whose eligibility ran out during the 2024-25 academic year one more year of eligibility.
That ruling gave both Pavia and Aguilar, as well as Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman, eligibility for the 2025 football season. But both Pavia and Aguilar played two years of JUCO football allowing the possibility for them to play one more season if the NCAA’s eligibility rules on the matter are dismantled.
According to Christovich’s reporting, Pavia does not plan on playing college football in 2026 even if he wins his lawsuit. It’s unclear whether Aguilar would return to college football next season if the lawsuit is successful.
“Going to try to see where I can go at the next level,” Aguilar said of his football future earlier this month. “And if something happens, something happens.”
More From RTI: Ole Miss Athletic Director Sets Date for Lane Kiffin’s Future Coaching Decision
Aguilar was also asked if he ever looks around and wishes he had one more year in Knoxville. With a short window to prepare for the season after arriving at Tennessee in the summer, Aguilar has had success behind center.
“I mean, yeah,” Aguilar said. “But, the one year, I’m blessed for this one year. Grateful to be here for this year. I’m just thankful and took advantage of this opportunity.”
Through the first 10 games of the season, Aguilar has completed 66% of his passes for 2,941 yards, 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He’s added 119 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Tennessee’s passing offense has been much better than it has in recent seasons and Aguilar is near the top of the SEC in most passing statistics though interceptions have remained an issue for him.
Tennessee does not have a clear quarterback waiting in the wings for next season. Redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre are currently on the roster while five-star Faizon Brandon is committed to the Vols in the 2026 recruiting cycle and will be a freshman next season.
That makes Aguilar potentially returning for one season an attractive scenario for Tennessee. One question of importance is when will the lawsuit, and Aguilar’s eligibility status be decided? Most roster decisions for the 2026 season will be decided in December.
For now, Aguilar is preparing for the end of Tennessee’s 2025 regular season. The Vols travel to rival Florida on Saturday night before hosting Vanderbilt to conclude the regular season in eight days.
