When a Knoxville judge denied Joey Aguilar’s preliminary injunction on Friday, it left Tennessee with a lot of uncertainty at quarterback. Uncertainty isn’t necessarily bad, but it means the range of outcomes for the 2026 Volunteers just got a lot wider.
In his lone season with Tennessee, Aguilar exceeded expectations considering the circumstances that led to his arrival in Knoxville. Aguilar completed 67.3% of his passes and threw for 3,565 yards (third in the SEC) and 24 touchdowns, all while leading an offense that scored 39.8 points per game (sixth in the country).
Those gaudy numbers were also accompanied by some warts. For starters, Aguilar threw 10 interceptions — some of them coming at inopportune times in big games. His pick six right before halftime completely changed the complexion of the Alabama game, and his two first-half interceptions — plus a fumble resulting in a scoop and score — against Oklahoma were too much for Tennessee to overcome.
If Aguilar had been able to return for the 2026 season, the Vols would’ve had stability at the most important position on the field. The floor would’ve been relatively high, and with Jim Knowles running a revamped defense, a College Football Playoff berth would have been on the table.
SEC football power rankings 2026: Texas, Georgia lead the way as Alabama slides down league’s pecking order
Brandon Marcello
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