Ahead one of their toughest tests of the season, an already wealthy Wildcats roster just got a little richer. A Pima County Superior Court judge has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) that will allow running back Ismail Mahdi and linebacker Max Harris to play a fifth season of college football at Arizona. Justin Spears of the Arizona Daily Star was first to obtain the TRO, but multiple sources have since confirmed.
Both were previously granted eligibility a part of a federal judge’s ruling in Colorado in July, but have been in limbo since the NCAA appealed and got a stay against the judgement.
The TRO grants Mahdi and Harris immediate eligibility, opening up the possibility of the two suiting up for the Wildcats’ showdown with No. 15 BYU in Provo on Saturday. A hearing is on the calendar for Monday, September 21, to allow the NCAA to show cause for why the court should negate the TRO. The two, as well as other plaintiffs named in the case, must pay $1,000 for the order to be effective.
Last season, Mahdi led Arizona with 859 rushing yards, scoring five touchdowns, including four on the ground. Harris finished third on the team in tackles with 78 tackles. The two were teammates at Texas State in 2024.
Over the summer, the NCAA passed a “five-for-five” eligibility rule, eliminating redshirts and granting all student-athletes five seasons of eligibility following their high school graduation or 19th birthday, whichever came first. The change did not apply to members of the high school class of 2022 – which would have been entering their fifth year of eligibility this academic year – prompting lawsuits across the country.
A similar lawsuit, filed in Georgia, allowed for Tommy Lloyd and the men’s basketball team to add former Clemson forward RJ Godfrey Jr.
While their status for Saturday remains unclear, Mahdi and Harris have been practicing with the team through fall camp and the start of the fall semester. After not participating in spring camp or summer workouts, both are behind in terms of conditioning and their understand of the playbook, but provide the Wildcats with invaluable experience and leadership. If the ruling holds, the veterans should give Arizona a jolt on both sides of the ball as they make a run towards a Big 12 conference title this December.
The Wildcats face off against No. 15 BYU on Saturday, September 15, at 12:30 PM on FOX.