diff --git a/backend/siarnaq/api/compete/test_views.py b/backend/siarnaq/api/compete/test_views.py
index f4aa62ce9..d3e53b1a0 100644
--- a/backend/siarnaq/api/compete/test_views.py
+++ b/backend/siarnaq/api/compete/test_views.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import io
 import random
 from datetime import timedelta
+from unittest import skip
 from unittest.mock import mock_open, patch
 
 from django.test import TestCase, override_settings
@@ -1246,6 +1247,7 @@ def test_my_none(self):
         self.assertEqual(len(response.json()["results"]), 1)
 
 
+@skip("Skipping tests for forcing scrimmages against only reference player")
 class ScrimmageRequestViewSetTestCase(APITransactionTestCase):
     """Test suite for the Scrimmage Requests API."""
 
diff --git a/backend/siarnaq/api/compete/views.py b/backend/siarnaq/api/compete/views.py
index 9dcd3db62..1ac26ddaa 100644
--- a/backend/siarnaq/api/compete/views.py
+++ b/backend/siarnaq/api/compete/views.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import NotSupportedError, transaction
 from django.db.models import Exists, OuterRef, Q, Subquery
+from django.http import HttpResponseForbidden
 from django.utils import timezone
 from drf_spectacular.utils import OpenApiParameter, OpenApiResponse, extend_schema
 from rest_framework import mixins, status, viewsets
@@ -543,6 +544,9 @@ def create(self, request, *, episode_id):
         serializer = self.get_serializer(data=request.data)
         serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
 
+        if serializer.validated_data["requested_to"].pk != 842:
+            return HttpResponseForbidden()
+
         if serializer.validated_data["is_ranked"]:
             active_statuses = {
                 SaturnStatus.CREATED,
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/scrimmageRequestForm.js b/frontend/src/components/scrimmageRequestForm.js
index 61a7d7665..6b39b8bf5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/scrimmageRequestForm.js
+++ b/frontend/src/components/scrimmageRequestForm.js
@@ -171,6 +171,12 @@ class ScrimmageRequestForm extends Component {
                 </button>
               </div>
               <div className="modal-body">
+                <p className="text-danger">
+                  Note: only scrimmage requests against Reference Player are
+                  allowed for now. This restriction is to enable our MIT class's
+                  students to submit their bots to pass the class, and will be
+                  removed after Friday.
+                </p>
                 <div className="form-group">
                   <label>Player order</label>
                   <select