A temporary restraining order issued by a Dallas judge enables Ahmaad Moses, a safety for SMU, to seek a fifth season of eligibility in college football. The order prevents the NCAA, SEC, and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey from obstructing the return of approximately two dozen outgoing seniors, including Moses, who has not signed a professional contract.
Moses, who went undrafted earlier this year, had planned to enter the professional ranks in 2026. However, an MRI at the NFL scouting combine revealed a herniated disk, necessitating spinal fusion surgery. Since he has not joined a professional team, he is positioned to rejoin the Mustangs.
He has been training with the SMU squad during fall camp and has been recognized as a team captain and an All-ACC first-team selection for 2025, achieving 104 total tackles and five interceptions.
This ruling follows new regulations from Power 4 conferences that restrict schools from accepting players with signed professional contracts. Nonetheless, the restraining order specifically states that the NCAA, SEC, and Sankey cannot prevent a player's return due to their professional status. The order also applies to Jordan Hudson, a former SMU receiver now with the Dallas Cowboys.
The NCAA's new "five for five" model permits athletes to compete for five seasons within a five-year timeframe, although athletes from the high school Class of 2022 were initially excluded from this rule. A previous court ruling had declared these athletes eligible for a fifth season in the 2026-27 academic year, but a federal appeals court has temporarily halted that decision.
