The NCAA has denied a waiver request from Arizona State that would make USC transfer receiver Jake Smith eligible for the 2023 season, according to a report from SunDevilSource.

Smith was declared a medical non-counter at USC after doctors decided he would be unable to continue his playing career following a foot injury in 2021, per the report. That decision meant that if Smith was going to try and continue playing football, he’d be forced to transfer. As an undergraduate student who had already transferred once before — from Texas to USC ahead of the 2021 season — Smith had to petition for immediate eligibility.

It’s the latest head-scratching move from the NCAA, which drew criticism earlier this week after denying waiver requests from North Carolina’s Tez Walker and Florida State’s Darrell Jackson. In both instances, two-time transfers were petitioning for immediate eligibility but both players appeared to have more than strong enough cases to be granted a waiver.

The timing of these decisions have also caught the ire of college football fans. ASU’s season begins in three weeks.

With Smith’s status now decided, attention shifts to sophomore safety Xavion Alford, who might be in the same boat. Alford began his career at Texas before transferring to USC. He committed to Kenny Dillingham and ASU this offseason.