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Judge rules Indiana safety Louis Moore eligible for rest of 2025 season

Browning Headshotby: Zach Browning11 hours agoZachBrowning17
Indiana
Sep 6, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt (13) and defensive back Louis Moore (7) celebrate after forcing a turnover during the second half against the Kennesaw State Owls at Memorial Stadium. Photo: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Indiana safety Louis Moore will remain on the field this fall after a Texas court sided with him in his fight against the NCAA, granting an injunction Wednesday evening that secures his eligibility for the rest of the 2025 season.

Dallas County Judge Dale Tillery’s decision resolved weeks of uncertainty for one of the Hoosiers’ defensive leader, who had been playing under a temporary restraining order while his lawsuit against the NCAA moved forward. Without the ruling, Moore’s status could have expired this week. Instead, Indiana’s top tackler can finish the season without interruption.

Moore, a sixth-year senior, challenged the NCAA after it rejected his request for an additional year of eligibility. His argument centered on his two seasons at Navarro College, a junior college in Texas, which he contends should not count toward the NCAA’s eligibility clock. The NCAA denied both his initial waiver and subsequent appeal, prompting him to sue this summer.

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In court, Moore’s attorneys framed the case around both eligibility and the broader impact of NCAA rules on athletes’ opportunities, particularly in the name, image and likeness market. Testimony revealed Moore has already earned more than $300,000 from Indiana this season, with his legal team arguing that barring him from competition would cost him significant income and damage his long-term prospects.

The NCAA fought to have the case dismissed, claiming jurisdiction belonged elsewhere, but Tillery rejected that motion. He scheduled a trial for January 2026, though the injunction ensures Moore remains eligible through the end of this season, including all potential postseason play.

For Indiana, the outcome carries immediate football implications. Moore leads the team with 23 tackles and shares the interception lead with two, adding 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup through four games. His reliability in the secondary has been critical for a unit thin on depth after injuries to multiple safeties early in the season.

Moore’s winding college career has included stints at Navarro, Ole Miss and two separate runs with Indiana. He returned to Bloomington this offseason, expecting to use what he believed was a valid sixth year. Until Wednesday’s ruling, that hope remained in limbo.

Now, with his eligibility secure, Indiana retains a veteran presence on the back end of its defense — and Moore gets the season he’s fought for in court.

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