A Dallas judge has issued a temporary restraining order permitting Ahmaad Moses, a safety at SMU, to pursue a fifth season of eligibility in college football. This legal ruling prevents the NCAA, SEC, and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey from hindering a group of roughly two dozen outgoing seniors from returning to college sports.
Should the NCAA or SEC attempt to block any of these players, they must present their case in court.
Moses, who went undrafted earlier this year, has not yet signed a professional contract. He initially planned to turn professional in 2026, but an MRI at the NFL scouting combine revealed a herniated disk that necessitated spinal fusion surgery. Since he has not signed with any professional team, he is likely eligible to return to the Mustangs.
Moses has been practicing with the SMU team during fall camp and was recognized as a team captain while earning All-ACC first-team honors in 2025, accumulating 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. However, the restraining order clarifies that the NCAA, SEC, and Sankey cannot obstruct a player's return due to their professional status. The order also encompasses Jordan Hudson, a former SMU receiver now with the Dallas Cowboys.
The NCAA is adopting a "five for five" model, allowing athletes to compete for up to five seasons in a five-year span. Athletes from the high school Class of 2022, including Moses, were initially excluded from this model.
