A recent decision by 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 stay the lower court's order as the appeals process unfolds.
The original ruling, made by U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeney, determined that athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and used their four seasons of eligibility this spring could receive an extra year. This decision stemmed from legal challenges by players who felt they were unfairly denied the same eligibility relief as those from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic.
The NCAA is also moving towards a new model that would allow five seasons of play within a five-year period.
Moses, who is from Arlington and began his collegiate career at SMU in 2022, completed four seasons with the Mustangs and was a team captain. He had planned to enter the professional ranks but faced setbacks due to an injury.
Although he has not pursued individual legal action for a fifth year, a university spokesperson confirmed that he will continue to practice with the team while awaiting the court's final decision. The timing for a resolution remains uncertain, with SMU's season opener against Florida State approaching on Sept. 7.
