Judge Denied Restraining Order for Arizona Athletes
A Pima County judge has blocked an effort by two football players to bypass NCAA eligibility restrictions.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Football
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Pima County Superior Court Judge Randi L. Burnett denied a temporary restraining order on October 2, 2026, keeping Ismail Mahdi and Max Harris ineligible for competition. The ruling prevents the athletes from playing in their upcoming game against Cincinnati.
Why it matters
The decision underscores the impact of a recent U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit stay, which effectively removed an additional year of eligibility that had previously been granted to the players. The athletes had sought the court order in September 2026 to circumvent the NCAA five-for-five eligibility framework.
Max Harris recorded 10 tackles over three games, while Ismail Mahdi accumulated 72 rushing yards on 12 carries before being ruled ineligible. Both players were active for games starting in Week 2 against BYU.
The players
Randi L. Burnett
She serves as a Pima County Superior Court Judge who issued the ruling regarding the eligibility status of the Arizona football players.
Ismail Mahdi
He is a college football player who recorded 72 rushing yards on 12 carries this season before becoming ineligible for competition.
Max Harris
He is a college football player who recorded 10 tackles over three games before being ruled ineligible by the court.
Ryan Downton
He is an attorney who represented the two athletes in their legal petition to the Pima County Superior Court.
The details
Attorney Ryan Downton represented the athletes in their legal attempt to regain eligibility. Due to the court ruling, neither Mahdi nor Harris will be permitted to participate in the scheduled home game against Cincinnati.
Timeline
August 2026: The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay affecting athlete eligibility.
September 2026: The athletes filed for a temporary restraining order.
October 2, 2026: Judge Randi L. Burnett denied the temporary restraining order.
October 3, 2026: Arizona plays its home opener against Cincinnati.
Season Trajectory
The loss of both players creates a significant void in the Arizona roster as the team enters critical conference play against Cincinnati. This ruling solidifies the current competitive balance for the program, which must now adjust its rotation without two key contributors.
The exclusion of Ismail Mahdi and Max Harris from the lineup directly impacts the team's depth and on-field personnel rotations for the game against Cincinnati. Their absence effectively shifts the offensive and defensive production expectations to the remaining active roster.
The takeaway
The judicial denial reinforces the current legal limits placed on collegiate athletes regarding their eligibility windows. Athletes and programs continue to face uncertainty as appellate court rulings directly impact roster availability throughout the season.
Further reading
For more updates on the team, visit Football.
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