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Max Olson
Multiple Authors
Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris has initiated legal action against the NCAA, seeking a seventh year of eligibility, as informed by his agent, Simon Pflum, to ESPN on Tuesday.
Morris, along with his legal team, has submitted a lawsuit in Charlottesville Circuit Court, requesting a preliminary injunction in his ongoing fight for approval for one additional season of eligibility after the NCAA rejected his medical redshirt waiver and appeal in January.
The 25-year-old quarterback guided Virginia to 11 victories and an appearance in the ACC championship game in 2025, amassing 3,245 total yards and 21 touchdowns. The Cavaliers achieved a No. 16 ranking in the final AP Top 25 poll, marking the program’s best finish since 1995, following a 13-7 win over Missouri in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
Morris sought a medical redshirt for the 2022 season while at TCU, citing a knee injury that he claimed had a significant impact on his mental health. He was injured during the season opener against Colorado and subsequently lost his starting position to Max Duggan, who later led the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff National Championship game and concluded the season with a 13-2 record.
Morris returned from his injury to participate as a backup in three additional games during the 2022 season, including the national championship game. since he had already redshirted in 2021, the injury-plagued season counted as a full year of eligibility according to NCAA regulations.
His legal counsel argues that the 26 snaps Morris played in those three appearances were part of an approved mental health treatment plan, and they assert that the NCAA ignored mental health documentation provided by Virginia in support of Morris’ eligibility waiver.
“As additional lawsuits challenging common-sense, academically-related eligibility rules are filed, the NCAA will continue to defend against efforts to deprive high school students nationwide of the chance to compete in college and enjoy the life-changing opportunities that college sports can offer,” the NCAA stated.
“The NCAA and its member institutions are implementing changes to enhance benefits for student-athletes, yet the patchwork of state laws and inconsistent court rulings make cooperation with Congress essential to establish stability for all college athletes.”
Morris, a starter in 35 games and the son of Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris, started his college journey at Oklahoma in 2020 and has had brief tenures at TCU and North Texas before moving to Virginia for the 2025 season.
Following the NCAA’s denial of Morris’ waiver request, Virginia signed two veteran transfer quarterbacks, Beau Pribula from Missouri and Eli Holstein from Pitt, in January. Morris remains enrolled in school and has yet to enter the NFL draft process while awaiting a final decision regarding his eligibility.
Morris’ lawsuit comes just weeks after Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was awarded an injunction for a sixth year of eligibility by a state court judge in his case against the NCAA after the organization denied his application for a medical redshirt.
