Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is officially jumping into the major lawsuit against the NCAA, hoping to secure another year of eligibility. He’s teaming up with Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, who basically kicked off this whole movement. Maybe they’re just trying to squeeze out one more year of eligibility since their season has fallen short.

According to Front Office Sports’ Amanda Christovich, Diego Pavia has filed an amended complaint against the NCAA’s JUCO rule. The Tennessee QB didn’t waste any time getting added as another plaintiff in this lawsuit. The whole legal battle revolves around challenging the NCAA rule that counts junior college (JUCO) time against a player’s total college eligibility. Essentially, the players argue that because they couldn’t earn NIL money while playing at a JUCO, it’s unfair for that time to limit their overall earning potential in college football. While Pavia received a temporary waiver to play in 2025, his larger lawsuit is trying to change the rule for good, giving all former JUCO players more time and more opportunities.

The situation for both Tennessee and Vanderbilt this year makes the lawsuit even more understandable. Neither team has a clear path to the playoffs, so both schools are falling short of a championship-contending season. According to ESPN, the Vols have just a 2% chance to make the playoffs this year. Since a national title is off the table, getting another year of eligibility through the lawsuit could be a bigger priority or one last natty push for players like Aguilar.

Plus, it gives Joey Aguilar another chance to improve his draft stock and grow his NIL brand. The former Sun Belt QB has already stacked just over a million in his first year in the SEC. With the way he throws the pigskin, it’s a no-brainer that Tennessee might go big on him. After all, he’s a very Volunteers-coded gunslinger, right up there with the likes of Hendon Hooker.

It’s been a bit of a journey for Aguilar to get to this point. He started out at Diablo Valley Community College, putting in two years there before transferring to Appalachian State. He absolutely lit it up at App State, which got him noticed and led to a brief commitment to UCLA before he ultimately landed at Tennessee.

Joey Aguilar has been putting in serious work for Josh Heupel. Their 7–3 record on paper doesn’t quite reflect their offense or Aguilar’s level of play. The Vols are second in the nation in scoring offense (43.4 ppg). The Cali native has nearly 3,000 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 10 picks while completing 66% of his passes. If you’ve watched Tennessee play, you know he’s one of the most entertaining QBs in the country, if not the most. He’s also flashed his rushing ability with 119 yards and 3 touchdowns. Makes sense why the Vols might push for him to get another year.

If Josh Heupel pulls elite DBs from the portal this offseason, Tennessee might have a legit shot at the SEC, maybe even a playoff run, with Joey Aguilar.

However, the outcome of the lawsuit is still up in the air. The players are hoping for a permanent rule change, but legal battles are always complicated and take time. For Aguilar, it’s a gamble on getting another crack at college football after his final scheduled season. Given the long odds for a playoff run this year. The chance to extend their careers is a smart move for both Aguilar and Pavia. It’s a high-stakes play that could reshape the NCAA’s eligibility rules for years to come. All thanks to Diego Pavia’s heroics.

Diego Pavia: The College Football’s Revolutionist!

Diego Pavia earned a final, sixth year of eligibility late last year after securing a preliminary injunction in his lawsuit against the NCAA. He argued that his time at New Mexico Military Institute shouldn’t count toward his eligibility clock. While his attorneys pushed to turn his case into a class-action lawsuit, Pavia later clarified he does not plan to play another season at Vanderbilt. On social media, he made it pretty clear that “2025 will be my final season.”

In September, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held a hearing related to the NCAA’s appeal. According to sports law professor Sam Ehrlich, Pavia’s attorneys threatened a broader challenge to the NCAA’s redshirt rule. And said they would seek another injunction that could allow Pavia to play in 2026. Ehrlich explained, “A big part of the hearing was about whether the NCAA’s appeal was moot… because Pavia could still play for 2025 based on the waiver.” His point was that if Pavia already had 2025 guaranteed, the appeal might not change anything.

However, Pavia’s legal team argued the case still matters. Ehrlich said Pavia’s attorney believes the appellate ruling could determine whether NCAA rules are considered “commercial.” And if they are, they would be subject to antitrust law. If the court rules that way, Pavia’s camp would request a new injunction… or possibly an expedited trial… so he could potentially play in 2026. It will be fascinating to see how this ends. Either the NCAA finally makes a permanent change… or the same cycle continues.