TCU quarterback Matthew Baldwin has been denied a waiver for immediately eligibility after transferring from Ohio State this offseason, according to sources close to the program. 

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Drew Davison first reported the news. The university is expected to appeal the decision to the NCAA. Baldwin arrived on campus during the summer, and could significant portions of fall camp while dealing with an injury. 

Baldwin opted to transfer to TCU after a quarterback battle at Ohio State against former blue-chip recruit Justin Fields. If Baldwin is not granted immediate eligibility, he will likely have to sit out this season and have three years of eligibility remaining with the Horned Frogs. 

Before college, Baldwin threw for more than 4,000 yards and 44 touchdowns for Hank Carter at Lake Travis High School in Austin in his lone season as a starter. He previously backed up Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer. 

The NCAA’s decision comes in the wake of several high-profile quarterback waivers that were granted. Notably, Fields was awarded immediate eligibility at Ohio State after leaving Georgia. Fellow Ohio State transfer Tate Martell will also be allowed to play right away at Miami. 

TCU hoped Baldwin could come in and invigorate a quarterback room with plenty of question marks. Two of the three quarterbacks who started games last season – Grayson Muehlstein (graduation) and Shawn Robinson (transfer to Mizzou) – are gone. That leaves Michael Collins as the lone returning starter. He missed the spring while recovering from various injuries. 

With Baldwin seemingly out of the running, TCU’s quarterback race is down to five names. Collins and Kansas State graduate transfer Alex Delton are considered the favorite for the job. Freshmen Max Duggan and Justin Rogers can both make a case for playing time as well, though Rogers is still coming back from a major knee injury. Walk-on Matthew Downing got on the field at Georgia, but is a longshot to receive playing time. 

TCU opens the 2019 season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Aug. 31.