Chandler Morris, the quarterback for Virginia, is stepping back from the spotlight for the time being.
He had been pursuing a seventh year of NCAA eligibility, but a Virginia Circuit Court judge rejected his request for a preliminary injunction on Thursday.
The 25-year-old player filed a lawsuit against the NCAA back in February, asking for an extension to return to the Cavaliers for another season after his prior appeal was denied.
Morris has spent six seasons playing at various colleges, including Oklahoma, TCU, North Texas, and Virginia, leading the Cavaliers to 11 wins and an appearance in the ACC Championship Game in 2025.
The NCAA expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, stating that it upholds the integrity of college sports. They mentioned, perhaps a bit defensively, that as more lawsuits challenge traditional eligibility rules, they would continue to fight to protect opportunities for high school athletes to compete and grow through college sports.
They also acknowledged that while there are ongoing changes aimed at better supporting student-athletes, the patchwork of state laws and inconsistent court decisions highlight the need for collaboration with Congress to ensure stability for all athletes.
Morris and his legal team previously argued that the NCAA unfairly denied him a waiver for the 2022 season due to a knee injury he suffered in TCU’s opener, which caused him to miss significant playtime.
After returning from his injury, he played in three more games, including the College Football Playoff Championship. His attorneys claim these appearances were part of a prescribed mental health treatment plan, stating that the NCAA neglected to consider the treatment documentation they provided.
In contrast, the NCAA countered that the treatment records did not meet their standards as they weren’t authored by a licensed psychologist. They also presented an affidavit from ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, urging the court to maintain the NCAA’s eligibility requirements.
This ruling marks a key win for the NCAA, particularly following the recent case of Mississippi State QB Trinidad Chambliss, who was allowed to return after the Mississippi Supreme Court denied the NCAA’s appeal last week.
