Virginia QB Morris Loses Court Battle to Play a 7th Season

A Virginia circuit court judge shut down Chandler Morris' bid to get one more year of eligibility Thursday, denying his request for a preliminary injunction that would have cleared him to play a seventh season for the Cavaliers. The 25-year-old quarterback took the NCAA to court in Charlottesville Circuit Court back in February, hoping to overturn the organization's decision to reject his eligibility waiver and appeal earlier this year.

Morris Made a Case About Mental Health and Injury

Here's what happened: Morris tore his ACL in TCU's season opener back in 2022. He said the injury and what came after hit him hard mentally. His legal team argued the NCAA wrongly denied his waiver request, pointing out that Morris came back to play in three more games as a backup that season, including the College Football Playoff championship game. According to his attorneys, those appearances were part of a medically prescribed mental health treatment plan. Morris' side submitted mental health documentation to support the waiver request, but the NCAA rejected it all.

Why? The NCAA said Morris failed to prove he suffered an "incapacitating physical or mental circumstance." The organization also took issue with the treatment notes about his mental health, arguing they didn't come from a licensed psychologist and fell short of NCAA standards. The NCAA pointed out Morris was cleared to return in October 2022 and actually played in games, which undermined the idea he was truly incapacitated.

This Fits a Bigger Pattern

Morris' loss is another win for the NCAA as courts keep throwing out legal challenges to its eligibility rules. In February, a Tennessee judge denied quarterback Joey Aguilar's similar request to keep playing for the Volunteers. Meanwhile, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got cleared to return for 2026 after the Mississippi Supreme Court denied the NCAA's appeal.

The NCAA called the ruling a vindication. "The NCAA is pleased by the court's decision today, which protects the integrity of collegiate competition," the organization said in a statement. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips even submitted an affidavit backing the NCAA's eligibility rules.

Morris led Virginia to 11 wins and the ACC championship game in 2025 after six seasons playing at Oklahoma, TCU, North Texas, and Virginia. He started 35 games across all those stops. But that court decision Thursday? That's the end of the line for his eligibility fight.

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