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Indiana safety Louis Moore will stay on the field for the rest of the 2025 season after winning a court battle against the NCAA. A Texas judge granted Moore an injunction Wednesday that allows the Hoosiers’ leading tackler to keep playing as No. 11 Indiana aims for another College Football Playoff appearance.
Moore’s legal challenge centers on the NCAA’s five-year eligibility rule. He argued his three seasons at Navarro Junior College (Texas) shouldn’t count toward his eligibility clock — similar to the recent landmark case won by Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, who also played JUCO ball.
The ruling doesn’t force the NCAA to permanently grant Moore a sixth year, but it effectively clears him to play without restrictions until January 29, 2026 — conveniently after the CFP National Championship game.
This is huge for the Hoosiers’ defense.
Moore’s journey has been anything but straightforward. After starting at Navarro, he first joined Indiana before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024, then returned to Bloomington this season. Through four games in 2025, he’s been a defensive standout with a team-leading 23 tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions alongside Amare Ferrell. In IU’s dominant 63-10 win over Illinois last weekend, Moore added six tackles and broke up a pass.
The safety’s continued presence gives Indiana’s secondary a significant boost heading into a critical stretch. The Hoosiers travel to Iowa this weekend before hosting No. 6 Oregon on October 11 in what could be a preview of postseason matchups.
Moore’s case highlights the growing challenges to NCAA eligibility rules, especially for players who begin their careers at junior colleges. With the injunction now in place, he’ll be able to finish what’s shaping up to be a special season for Indiana football — potentially all the way through the playoff.
