Indiana safety Louis Moore is now eligible to play for the rest of the 2025 season.
Judge Dale Tillery of the Dallas County 134th Civil District Court granted an injunction to Moore Wednesday. The decision came hours after he denied the NCAA’s motion to dismiss Moore’s eligibility lawsuit.
Michael Niziolek of the Herald-Times first reported the injunction on X.
The court found that applying the NCAA’s “Five-Year Rule” to time spent at junior colleges violates the Texas Antitrust Act. Additionally, the ruling states that “there is evidence that of imminent and irreparable harm to Plaintiff Louis Moore” and that “Moore will be irreparably injured” if he was precluded from playing for Indiana University in the 2025 season.
The order will remain in effect until a full trial. The court has scheduled a non-jury trial to begin on Jan. 29, 2026.
“This is a tremendous victory, not only for Louis Moore, but for similarly situated student athletes who have had the JUCO NCAA eligibility rule illegally enforced against them,” Moore’s attorney Brian P. Lauten said following the ruling.
Moore played at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, for two years before transferring to Indiana for the first time in 2022. The NCAA’s denial of his waiver for 2025-26 eligibility was an attempt to enforce a bylaw that states time spent at a junior college counts against athletes’ NCAA eligibility.
The NCAA previously argued the Dallas court did not have jurisdiction over the case and that Moore should refile in Indiana, where the NCAA is headquartered. However, Tillery denied the NCAA’s motion to dismiss.
After the denial, the focus of the hearing shifted to arguments on the merits of an injunction.
Moore’s attorney opened with arguments in favor of an injunction before calling for Moore to virtually testify.
Moore identified potential monetary loss that could occur if he’s ineligible. He testified that an Indiana coach told him he would lose his scholarship and have to pay back name, image and likeness money if the court were to declare him ineligible.
Drexel University sports business professor Joel Maxcy and economics expert Matthew Backus testified as experts during the hearing Wednesday. Following closing arguments, the court was adjourned without a ruling. Nearly two hours later, the injunction was granted.
“I am so proud of [Moore]. He has earned every single thing he’s got,” Lauten said. “The Indiana University, the faculty, the students, the fan base should be so proud of him.”
Following the ruling, the NCAA said it “strongly disagrees” and stands by the eligibility rules.
“These repeated attempts to erode eligibility standards will rob thousands of high school students of the opportunity to compete in college and experience the life-changing opportunities only college sports can create,” the statement read. “The NCAA and its member schools are making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes, but the patchwork of state laws and inconsistent, often conflicting court decisions make partnering with Congress essential to provide stability for all current college athletes and those who are dreaming and training for a chance to compete.”
This story has been updated to include the statement from the NCAA
