Cavaliers’ Chandler Morris Faces Setback in Quest for Seventh College Season

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The University of Virginia’s quarterback room saw its immediate future clarified this week, though not in the way transfer Chandler Morris had hoped. A federal judge has denied Morris’s request for a preliminary injunction, a legal move that sought to grant him immediate eligibility for the 2024 season.

Morris, a graduate transfer from TCU, is seeking a rare seventh year of college football, citing injuries that impacted his earlier seasons. The NCAA had previously denied his waiver for an extra year of eligibility. His lawsuit, part of a broader challenge to the NCAA’s transfer and eligibility rules, will continue, but the denial of the injunction means he will not be suiting up for the Cavaliers when the season kicks off.

For Head Coach Tony Elliott and the Virginia offense, this ruling solidifies the pecking order under center. All eyes now turn to Tony Muskett, the expected starter, and a group of young signal-callers who will need to step up during fall camp. The decision provides clarity, albeit not the kind Morris or the team wished for, allowing the staff to focus their reps and game planning around available players.

While Morris’s long-term legal battle against the NCAA proceeds, his short-term role at UVA will be as a practice squad mentor. Virginia fans, eager to see an offensive resurgence, will now watch to see how Muskett leads an attack looking to improve upon last year’s record. The Cavaliers open their season at home against Richmond on August 31st at Scott Stadium.