A federal appeals court has temporarily suspended a ruling that would have allowed 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 place the lower court's order on hold while the appeals process continues.
This decision has created uncertainty for players who were previously told they could extend their athletic careers, including Ahmaad Moses from SMU.
The initial decision by U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeney stated that athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and completed their four seasons of play this past spring were eligible for an extra year.
This ruling followed legal challenges from players in that class, who argued they were unfairly denied the same eligibility relief that was provided to the Classes of 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the NCAA is moving towards a new model that would allow up to five seasons of play within a five-year period.
Moses, a native of Arlington, began his collegiate football career at SMU in the fall of 2022, serving as a team captain and receiving All-ACC first-team honors in 2025. After an injury prevented him from entering the professional ranks, he remains unsigned.
