Chandler Morris' Last-Ditch Bid for a Seventh Season Just Got Shut Down in Court

A Virginia circuit court judge handed down a tough loss Thursday, denying quarterback Chandler Morris' request for a preliminary injunction that would have let him play a seventh season for the Cavaliers. The 25-year-old had filed suit in Charlottesville Circuit Court back in February, hoping to overturn the NCAA's earlier decision to reject both his eligibility waiver and his appeal. It didn't work.

What Morris Was Fighting For

Here's the backstory: Morris had an incredible 2025 season, leading Virginia to 11 wins and a trip to the ACC championship game. But he'd already played six seasons across Oklahoma, TCU, North Texas, and Virginia, starting 35 games total. The NCAA said no to an extra year. Morris and his legal team disagreed and took them to court.

Their argument centered on the 2022 season at TCU. Morris suffered a knee injury in the Horned Frogs' season opener that he claimed wrecked his mental health. He came back to play three more games as a backup, including the College Football Playoff championship game. His attorneys insisted those appearances were part of a medically prescribed mental health treatment plan, not just him playing through it. They said the NCAA blew off his mental health documentation when it denied the waiver request.

The NCAA's Rebuttal

The NCAA wasn't buying it. In their response, the organization said Morris' waiver got rejected because Virginia couldn't prove he suffered an "incapacitating physical or mental circumstance." They pointed out that Morris was cleared to play in October of that 2022 season and actually participated in games, which didn't match the standard for an eligibility extension.

There was another technical issue too: the treatment notes about Morris' mental health came from providers who weren't licensed psychologists. The NCAA said that fell short of their standards. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips even submitted an affidavit supporting the NCAA's eligibility call.

The NCAA issued a statement after the ruling, calling the judge's decision a win for "the integrity of collegiate competition" and promising to keep fighting similar lawsuits challenging what they call "common-sense, academically-tied eligibility rules."

Morris' path to a seventh season is now officially closed. The fight is over.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.