A judge in Dallas has issued a temporary restraining order that permits Ahmaad Moses, a safety for SMU, to pursue an additional season of college football eligibility. This legal decision prevents the NCAA, SEC, and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey from hindering a group of around two dozen outgoing seniors from returning to college sports.
Should the NCAA or SEC wish to contest any of these returns, they must present their case in court.
Moses, who went undrafted this year and has not signed with a professional team, had planned to enter the professional ranks in 2026. However, a herniated disk discovered during the NFL scouting combine required him to undergo spinal fusion surgery. As he has not signed with a professional organization, he seems eligible to rejoin the Mustangs.
Moses has been active in fall camp, serving as a team captain and earning All-ACC first-team honors in 2025, during which he recorded 104 total tackles and five interceptions.
The ruling follows new regulations from Power 4 conferences that restrict schools from accepting players with professional contracts. However, the restraining order clarifies that the NCAA, SEC, and Sankey cannot obstruct a player’s return due to their professional history. The order also includes Jordan Hudson, a former SMU receiver now with the Dallas Cowboys.
The NCAA is adopting a model that allows athletes to compete for five seasons within a designated timeframe, although athletes from the high school Class of 2022 were not initially included in this rule.
