A federal appeals court has placed a temporary hold on a legal ruling that would have allowed many student-athletes, including SMU safety Ahmaad Moses, to compete for an additional season of eligibility. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver granted the NCAA’s request to pause the lower court's order while the appeals process is underway.
The original decision, made 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 ruling came after legal challenges from players who felt they were unfairly denied the same relief granted to earlier classes during the pandemic.
The NCAA is also moving towards a new model that would allow athletes to play five seasons within a five-year period.
Moses, a native of Arlington, Texas, began his collegiate journey at SMU in 2022 and has since completed four seasons. He was a team captain and earned All-ACC first-team honors in 2025. An injury, however, has complicated his plans to enter the professional ranks.
Although he has not yet pursued individual legal action for a fifth year, he continues to practice with the team as he awaits a final decision on his eligibility. The timing of the court's resolution remains unclear, as SMU's season opener against Florida State is set for Sept. 7.
