Tennessee and Vanderbilt QBs Form Rivalry Week’s Unlikely Alliance

On Saturday, No. 19 Tennessee faces off against No. 14 Vanderbilt for their final regular-season matchup. But while the Rivalry Week competition will be fierce on the field, the teams’ quarterbacks have an alliance.

Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar wouldn’t have been able to play this year if it weren’t for the landmark eligibility lawsuit filed by Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia last November. 

And now, Pavia and Aguilar are attempting to strike down the rule permanently. Last week, Pavia resubmitted his lawsuit with multiple plaintiffs arguing the NCAA should not be allowed to enforce the rule at all in the future. Aguilar signed onto it.

The legal battle began last year when attorney Ryan Downton—Vanderbilt graduate and football fan—offered to represent Pavia, Downton previously told Front Office Sports. Pavia filed a lawsuit seeking another year of eligibility, arguing the NCAA’s JUCO rule illegally restricted his ability to earn NIL (name, image, and likeness) money.

Pavia quickly won an injunction—the reason he’s been able to play this year, leading the Commodores through a historic season and giving his team a shot at the College Football Playoff for the first time. The NCAA granted a blanket waiver for one season granting players with JUCO years one extra year of eligibility. That’s the waiver that allowed Aguilar to play this season as well.

But the NCAA declined to make a change for good—so Downton and Pavia decided to keep fighting, even though Pavia planned to declare for the NFL Draft after this season. On Nov. 21, Downton filed an amended complaint with more than a dozen plaintiffs, including Aguilar. (Downton is also leading a separate lawsuit to challenge the concept of playing only four seasons across five years or the “redshirt rule.”)

Aguilar, the Tennessee transfer, began his football career in 2021, when he played for Diablo Valley College. After two seasons there, he transferred to App State and earned his degree while playing for the Mountaineers in 2024 and 2025. Aguilar was granted one year of eligibility through Pavia’s waiver, so he then transferred to UCLA. Aguilar ended up being a casualty of the sordid saga of Nico Iamaleava, who abruptly left Tennessee for UCLA in April—Aguilar then transferred to Tennessee mid-offseason.

Aguilar has previously implied he would try for the NFL Draft after this season. But by joining Pavia’s eligibility lawsuit, he could get another shot at a CFP run, especially after he’s settled into life at Knoxville after his abrupt offseason transfer. He could also earn another round of NIL and revenue-sharing dollars easily in the seven figures. 

It’s unlikely either team will make the Playoff, despite their strong showings this season. The winner of the SEC conference championship will earn a bid to the Playoff, but neither Vanderbilt nor Tennessee is a contender to appear in the title game. At No. 19, Tennessee is all but out. At No. 14, Vanderbilt has little chance unless it makes a significant rankings jump after Rivalry Week. 

Regardless of on-field performance this weekend, the quarterbacks still have a chance to make a lasting impact on college football.