Virginia QB Morris has injunction request denied by judge

A Virginia Circuit Court judge refused Virginia quarterback chandler morris‘Request for preliminary injunction to play seventh season on Thursday.

The 25-year-old quarterback sued the NCAA in Charlottesville Circuit Court in February in an effort to return for another season after his eligibility waiver extension and appeal were denied by the NCAA earlier this year.

Morris, who led the Cavaliers to 11 wins and an ACC Championship Game appearance in 2025, played six seasons and started 35 games during his tenures at Oklahoma, TCU, North Texas and Virginia.

“The NCAA is pleased with the court’s decision today, which protects the integrity of collegiate competition,” the NCAA said in a statement. “As additional lawsuits are filed challenging the common-sense, academically tied eligibility rules, the NCAA will continue to defend against efforts to rob high school students across the country of the opportunity to compete in college and experience the life-changing opportunities that only college sports can create.

“The NCAA and its member schools are making changes to provide greater benefits to student-athletes, but state laws and inconsistent, conflicting court decisions have made it necessary to partner with Congress to provide consistency to all college athletes.”

Morris’ attorneys argued that he was unfairly denied a waiver by the NCAA for the 2022 season at TCU. Morris suffered a knee injury in the Horned Frogs’ season opener, which he said took a toll on his mental health.

Morris returned from the injury to play three more games as a backup, including the College Football Playoff championship game. His attorneys said those appearances were part of a medically prescribed mental health treatment plan and that the NCAA disregarded the mental health documentation submitted by Morris in denying his waiver.

In its response to Morris’s request for a preliminary injunction, the NCAA said it rejected the waiver request because Virginia failed to prove that Morris suffered a “disabling physical or mental condition” after he was cleared to return and participate in games in October of that season.

The organization argued that the treatment notes regarding Morris’s mental health issues were below its standards because they were not from a licensed psychologist.

The NCAA also submitted an affidavit from ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips asking the court to uphold the NCAA’s eligibility rules.

The latest ruling is another significant victory for the NCAA as it faces legal challenges to its eligibility rules. In February, a Tennessee state judge disbarred Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar Request for preliminary injunction To continue playing for the Volunteers.

ole miss quarterback trinidad chamblis Was cleared to return for the Rebels in 2026 after the Mississippi Supreme Court rejected the NCAA’s appeal last week. oklahoma linebacker owen henneke and cal defensive lineman adan kinaina Has also sued the NCAA with hopes of getting an additional year.

According to the NCAA, preliminary injunctions have been denied in 33 of the 71 eligibility lawsuits filed against the organization. The NCAA reported that 13 injunctions have been granted, 12 lawsuits are still pending in lower courts and 13 have been voluntarily dismissed before judgment.

Morris, who threw for 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in his lone season with the Cavaliers, did not participate in the NFL Combine or Virginia’s Pro Day last month, but could still opt to pursue the NFL Draft, which begins April 23.

Virginia moving forward with two transfer quarterbacks, Missouri beau pribula and pits allie holsteinJoe joined the program this offseason after Morris’ waiver request was denied.