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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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SMU safety Ahmaad Moses is expected to make his season debut against Wake Forest on Saturday after reportedly receiving temporary court relief in his eligibility dispute. On3’s Billy Embody reported Friday that Moses’ request for a temporary restraining order had been granted.
The development gives the Mustangs an experienced defensive playmaker for their closing stretch and offers Moses an opportunity that appeared to be slipping away. A previous request for temporary relief was denied earlier this month as he continued pursuing a fifth season of eligibility.
His absence has involved both a medical setback and a legal fight.
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According to The Dallas Morning News, doctors discovered a herniated disk during the NFL scouting combine, requiring spinal fusion surgery. Moses did not sign with a professional team and sought another opportunity to play at SMU.
A Dallas judge granted him temporary eligibility in August, but Moses had not yet received medical clearance. By the time he was cleared, that order had expired. Another request was denied in Hidalgo County Court last week, leaving his return uncertain with the regular season nearing its end.
In an unsworn declaration reported by On3, Moses explained why a later resolution could not replace the opportunity to play now.
“No amount of money paid to me later could give me back the games, the season, or the opportunities I would lose,” Moses wrote.
Coach Rhett Lashlee had publicly supported his safety’s effort to return. Earlier this month, Lashlee emphasized the emotional difficulty of watching Moses go from an accomplished college player preparing for the NFL to someone unable to take the field.
Lashlee also pointed to the importance of Moses demonstrating that he was healthy enough to resume his football career.
SMU knows what he can contribute.
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Moses recorded 104 tackles, five interceptions and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2025, earning first-team All-ACC recognition. He started 12 of his 13 appearances and served as a team captain. His interception total ranked third in the ACC and seventh nationally, according to his official SMU biography.
His anticipated return also comes after starting safety Tyren Polley Jr. suffered a season-ending injury. The Dallas Morning News reported that the identity of the judge granting the latest relief was not immediately clear, and the eligibility clearance is temporary.
Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Stanford remain on SMU’s regular-season schedule.
After surgery and months of uncertainty, Moses is reportedly positioned to return Saturday, although the latest development does not establish a final resolution of his eligibility dispute.
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