A federal appeals court has placed a temporary hold on a legal decision that would have enabled many student-athletes 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.
This situation creates uncertainty for players, including Ahmaad Moses from SMU, who were previously informed they could extend their playing careers.
The initial 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 past spring could receive an extra year. This ruling followed legal challenges from players who argued they were unfairly denied the same relief granted to the Classes of 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic.
The NCAA is also progressing towards a new model that allows for five seasons of play within a five-year period starting from initial enrollment.
Moses, a native of Arlington, began his college football journey at SMU in the fall of 2022 and has served as a team captain, receiving All-ACC first-team honors in 2025. He recorded 104 total tackles and five interceptions. Although he intended to pursue a professional career, an injury led to him going undrafted and unsigned.
