Indiana starting safety Louis Moore can stay on the field this season after a Dallas County judge granted his eligibility on Wednesday, keeping the 24-year-old in the lineup for the undefeated Hoosiers.
Moore sued in early August to challenge the NCAA’s five-year eligibility limit, arguing his three seasons at Navarro Junior College (2019-22) should not count against his clock. In an order filed Wednesday, Judge Dale Tillery ruled the NCAA provision violates the Texas Antitrust Act and issued a temporary injunction that permits Moore to continue playing while the case proceeds.
“This is a big victory for not only Louis Moore, but for all similarly situated student athletes who have illegally had their eligibility for attending junior colleges taken from them by the NCAA,” attorney Brian P. Lauten said. “I am so proud of Louis for navigating this. Louis leads Indiana in tackles, interceptions, pass breakups and he’s had to do that while living a lawsuit. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He has earned everything he deserves.”
The injunction cites the “immediate need to allow Moore to play football for Indiana for the 2025-26 season” to prevent “irreparable harm” to his career, including development with the team, the opportunity to play, and the ability to fulfill his NIL agreement, according to the filing.
Moore spent three years at Navarro, redshirted and dealt with injury, then transferred to Indiana and played for the Hoosiers in 2022 and 2023. He transferred to Ole Miss for 2024 before returning to Bloomington this season. According to the lawsuit, Moore entered the transfer portal on Dec. 27, 2024, after multiple programs pointed to a recent court decision involving Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia as a pathway to another season.
Through four games this season, Moore leads Indiana with 23 tackles and two interceptions.
