KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A lawsuit aimed at providing additional eligibility for college football players was amended on Friday to include Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar. Originally filed in November 2024 by Vanderbilt’s quarterback Diego Pavia, the lawsuit addresses the NCAA’s limitations that affect former junior college football players who transfer to Division I programs.
Pavia, who previously attended New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State before transferring to Vanderbilt, argues that the NCAA’s “JUCO Eligibility Limitation Bylaws” hinder these athletes’ potential playing years. The lawsuit highlights how the “Five-Year Rule” and the restriction of the “Eligibility Clock” impede the ability of these players to utilize name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities effectively.
In a significant development a month after the filing, a preliminary injunction was granted that allowed Pavia to compete in the 2025 season. With the latest amendment, the case now includes Aguilar, who transitioned from Diablo Valley Community College to Appalachian State University before joining the Tennessee Vols for the 2025 season.
The lawsuit asserts that if one considers only Aguilar’s time at four-year institutions and disregards his junior college years, he would have participated in just three seasons over four years by the end of the 2025 season. This amendment expands the number of players in the lawsuit to 18, all seeking the right to compete in Division I football through the 2026 season and beyond, provided they still have remaining eligibility.
This ongoing legal action reflects a growing movement to address the challenges faced by athletes transitioning from junior colleges, further igniting discussions around NCAA regulations and player rights in college athletics.