A federal appeals court has granted a temporary pause on a legal ruling that would have allowed thousands of student-athletes, including SMU safety Ahmaad Moses, to compete for an additional fifth season of eligibility. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver agreed to the NCAA's request to suspend the lower court's order while the appeals process unfolds.
The original ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeney allowed athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and exhausted their four seasons of eligibility this spring to gain an extra year. This decision was made following legal challenges from players who claimed they were unfairly denied the same eligibility relief given to the Classes of 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic.
The NCAA is also advancing a “five for five” model, which would permit up to five seasons of play within a five-year period.
Moses, who hails from Arlington, began his college football career at SMU in 2022 and has completed four seasons with the Mustangs. 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.
While he continues to practice with the team, the legal hold on the eligibility extension leaves his future uncertain as he awaits a final decision from the court. SMU's season opener against Florida State is set for Sept. 7.
