A Dallas judge issued a temporary restraining order that enables Ahmaad Moses, a safety for SMU, to seek a fifth season of college football eligibility. This legal decision prevents the NCAA, SEC, and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey from blocking around two dozen outgoing seniors from returning to college sports.
If the NCAA or SEC intends to contest any of these returns, they must present their case in court.
Moses, who went undrafted this year and has not signed a professional contract, had planned to turn professional in 2026. However, an MRI during the NFL scouting combine indicated a herniated disk that necessitated spinal fusion surgery. Since he has not signed with a professional team, he appears eligible to return to the Mustangs.
He has been practicing with SMU during fall camp, where he was named a team captain and earned All-ACC first-team honors in 2025, accumulating 104 total tackles and five interceptions.
This ruling follows the recent adoption of new rules by Power 4 conferences that restrict schools from accepting players who have signed professional contracts. Nonetheless, the restraining order clarifies that the NCAA, SEC, and Sankey cannot impede a player's return due to their professional status. The order also pertains to Jordan Hudson, a former SMU receiver now with the Dallas Cowboys.
The NCAA is introducing a model that permits athletes to compete for five seasons within a five-year timeframe. Athletes from the high school Class of 2022, like Moses, were initially excluded from this provision.
