A Virginia court has rejected quarterback Chandler Morris’s legal bid to secure an unprecedented seventh year of college football eligibility, dealing a blow to the 25-year-old player’s hopes of returning to the field in 2026.
The court ruling denied Morris’s request for a preliminary injunction after the NCAA had previously rejected both his initial waiver application and his follow-up appeal earlier this year. Morris had filed the lawsuit in Charlottesville Circuit Court this past February.
The NCAA expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling in a statement released Thursday, saying it was pleased the decision would help maintain the integrity of college athletics.
“As additional lawsuits challenging common-sense, academically-tied eligibility rules are filed, the NCAA will continue to defend against attempts to rob high school students across the nation of the opportunity to compete in college and experience the life-changing opportunities only college sports can create,” the organization stated.
“The NCAA and its member schools are making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes, but the patchwork of state laws and inconsistent, conflicting court decisions make partnering with Congress essential to provide stability for all college athletes.”
Morris’s legal team had argued that the NCAA improperly rejected his waiver request related to his 2022 campaign at TCU, during which he suffered a knee injury in the opening game. Though he returned to action later that season, appearing in three contests as a reserve player.
His attorneys contended that those limited appearances coming off the bench for the Horned Frogs were actually part of a medically recommended treatment program addressing mental health concerns.
However, the NCAA maintained that Morris had not demonstrated he experienced an “incapacitating physical or mental circumstance” that would warrant the waiver.
During his single season with Virginia in 2025, Morris led the Cavaliers to an impressive 11-victory campaign and a berth in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. He threw for 3,000 yards while recording 16 touchdown passes against nine interceptions across 14 contests.
Throughout his college career, Morris competed in 46 games across four different institutions: Oklahoma in 2020, TCU from 2021-23, North Texas in 2024, and Virginia most recently.
Virginia is now moving ahead with transfer quarterbacks Beau Pribula, who came from Missouri, and Eli Holstein, formerly of Pittsburgh.
This ruling represents another legal victory for the NCAA as it faces mounting challenges to its eligibility regulations. In February, a Tennessee court similarly rejected quarterback Joey Aguilar’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to continue playing for the Volunteers.
