A federal appeals court has temporarily halted a decision that would have allowed numerous student-athletes, including SMU safety Ahmaad Moses, to compete for an additional season of college eligibility. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver granted the NCAA's request to put the lower court's order on hold during the appeals process.
The initial ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeney stated that athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and completed their four seasons of eligibility this spring could receive an extra year. This ruling was in response to legal challenges from players who argued they were unfairly denied the same eligibility relief given to the Classes of 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the NCAA is working towards a new model that allows for five seasons of play within a five-year period.
Moses, a native of Arlington, began his college career at SMU in 2022 and has completed four seasons with the Mustangs. He was a team captain and received All-ACC first-team honors in 2025. An injury has complicated his plans to enter the professional ranks, as an MRI revealed a herniated disk requiring surgery, which led to him going undrafted.
While Moses continues to practice with the team, the legal hold complicates his eligibility status. SMU's season opener against Florida State is scheduled for Sept. 7, but the timeline for a legal resolution remains unclear.
