A federal appeals court has temporarily halted a ruling that would have allowed many 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 place the lower court's order on hold while the appeals process is ongoing.
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 were entitled to an extra year. This decision followed legal challenges from players who argued they were unfairly denied the same relief given to the Classes of 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic.
The NCAA is also moving towards a new eligibility model that allows for five seasons of play within a five-year window.
Moses, a native of Arlington, began his college career at SMU in the fall of 2022. He served as a team captain and earned All-ACC first-team honors in 2025.
An injury has complicated his plans to enter the professional ranks, and although he has not pursued individual legal action for a fifth year, he will continue to practice with the team while awaiting the court's final decision. The uncertainty surrounding the legal resolution comes as SMU prepares for its season opener against Florida State on Sept. 7.
