A Dallas court has granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) that allows 18 college football players, including SMU free safety Ahmaad Moses, to return for a fifth year of eligibility in the 2026 season.
This ruling comes just two days before the start of the college football season and follows the earlier Wisne v. NCAA decision on July 31, which initially permitted athletes who graduated high school in 2022 to extend their eligibility. The NCAA's appeal of that ruling has been overridden by this new injunction.
Ahmaad Moses, a First Team All-ACC selection in 2025, has made 54 appearances and 19 starts during his four years with the Mustangs. He was instrumental in SMU’s success, contributing to a conference title in 2023 and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024.
Last season, he led the team with 104 tackles and five interceptions, along with 5.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
One of Moses’ standout performances came during a home game against Miami (FL), where he recorded a career-high 15 tackles and intercepted two passes, helping secure an overtime victory. After the 2025 season, Moses declared for the NFL Draft but faced a setback when an MRI revealed a herniated disk, leading to spinal fusion surgery.
This injury and subsequent surgery are believed to have impacted his chances of signing with an NFL team, allowing him to qualify for a return under the ACC's new eligibility rules.
