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Former OU quarterback files lawsuit seeking 7th year of eligibility
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- Former OU quarterback files lawsuit seeking 7th year of eligibility
Shortly after the Oklahoma Sooners received the news that the NCAA denied linebacker Owen Heinecke's appeal for a sixth season of collegiate eligibility , they saw a former quarterback take another step in his fight for a seventh year of eligibility.
Former OU signal-caller Chandler Morris reportedly filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a seventh year of eligibility . Morris began his college career with the Sooners in 2020, and he has played at four schools over the last six years. For context, his first season of college football coincides with the first NFL seasons for six-year veterans Jalen Hurts and CeeDee Lamb .
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Morris was a backup QB for the Sooners in 2020, throwing five passes in five games and running for two touchdowns on five rushes. He notably scored on a rushing TD in OU's win over Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game.
After Morris left OU, he played at TCU for three seasons. He spent the 2024 season at North Texas, and he played at Virginia, his current school, in 2025. With the Cavaliers, Morris threw for 3,245 yards and 21 touchdowns. He helped the team make the ACC title game. The Cavaliers already have transfer QBs Beau Pribula and Eli Holstein on the roster for 2026, but they may have Morris in the mix after he helped lead an 11-win season in 2025.
Morris has been seeking a medical redshirt for the 2022 season that he spent at TCU. He played in four games that season. As a member of the 2020 recruiting class, the 25-year-old Morris has already used his four seasons of eligibility, plus his redshirt year, and his COVID year. Now, his fate is off to a Charlottesville Circuit Court in Virginia, where he is seeking a preliminary injunction, after his medical redshirt waiver and appeal were denied by the NCAA in January.
Morris is taking a similar route as fellow QBs Trinidad Chambliss (who was granted the right to play at Ole Miss in 2026) and Joey Aguilar (who was not granted the right to play at Tennessee in 2026). Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu has been granted a ninth season of college football in 2026. Of course, former Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia was granted the right to play for the Commodores in 2025, a season in which he finished second in Heisman Trophy voting.
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This all takes place as Sooner Nation is frustrated that Heinecke cannot get another season of eligibility, despite really only playing three seasons of college football. After 15 minutes of lacrosse over three games at Ohio State in 2021, Heinecke transferred to OU, but he missed the entire 2022 season due to injury. After a reserve role in 2023 and 2024, he enjoyed a breakout season for the Sooners in 2025, which will likely be his final season of college football, barring a massive change.
Heinecke registered 74 tackles, four passes defended, three sacks and one forced fumble in his first significant college football action. He became a starter at inside linebacker during OU's "Red November" run to the College Football Playoff, and he never looked back. He was a big piece of Oklahoma's defensive success.
Heinecke is taking part in the NFL scouting combine this week, and he spoke briefly about his situation on Wednesday morning in Indianapolis. With the NCAA twice denying him the chance to play in 2026, it's up to Heinecke whether he wants to take the legal route or if he wants to focus on the upcoming NFL draft. However, it seems pretty unlikely that he'll be back in Norman next season.
"I really only started this past year as a linebacker for Oklahoma," Heinecke said. "I wanted to keep all my options open. One of those options was possibly going back for another year and not using my year at Ohio State lacrosse as a year toward football, so just trying to keep all my options open ... Really leaning on family and the Lord for which direction is right for me. That got denied, and I'm excited to make the next steps."
As it stands, the Sooners will not have Heinecke on the roster in 2026, and Heinecke is likely to be drafted in April after his standout season a year ago. Though Oklahoma will miss Heinecke at inside linebacker next season, it will return Kip Lewis and brought in Cole Sullivan from Michigan in the transfer portal. They'll likely be the starting duo on the inside to open the 2026 season.
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OU's roster has come together nicely for the upcoming season, as the program looks to make a return trip to the playoff. Despite likely not having Heinecke's services available in 2026, they'll watch from afar as a former passer tries to get his seventh season of eligibility.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Former Oklahoma QB files lawsuit against NCAA seeking 7th year of CFB
