A federal appeals court has issued a temporary pause on a legal 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 stay the lower court's order while the appeals process unfolds.
The original decision by U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeney stated that athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and used their four seasons of eligibility this spring were entitled to an extra year. This ruling followed legal challenges from players in that class 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 model that allows five seasons of play within a five-year period.
Moses, a native of Arlington, began his college career at SMU in 2022 and completed four seasons, earning All-ACC first-team honors in 2025. Although he initially aimed to enter the professional ranks, an injury during the NFL scouting combine led to him going undrafted. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee expressed support for Moses returning to play, but the current legal hold complicates his situation.
While some athletes have secured individual fifth years through separate lawsuits, Moses has not yet taken that route. He will continue to practice with the team as he awaits a final decision from the courts. The timeline for a resolution remains unclear, with SMU's season opener against Florida State set for Sept. 7.
