Missouri defensive tackle Sterling Webb is back in court, and if you think you’ve seen it all, get ready. The guy who already secured a temporary restraining order against the NCAA in July, which was supposed to let him suit up for a fifth season with the Tigers, is now hitting the University of Missouri with *another* TRO. Yeah, you read that right. He’s literally suing the school he wants to play for.
What In The Emerald City Is Going On Down There?
This latest filing, dropped in the same St. Louis County Court that heard his original NCAA case, is aimed squarely at the UM System Board of Curators. Webb’s request is pretty clear: he wants the court to grant the same temporary restraining order against the university that it previously granted against the NCAA. What does that mean exactly? It means he’s trying to stop the university from declaring him ineligible, from refusing to certify his eligibility, from holding back any revenue-sharing or NIL cash he’s owed, and get this, from keeping him out of “practice, competition, team travel, or any other intercollegiate athletics activity during the 2026-2027 academic year.” Can you believe that? This dude is fighting tooth and nail to just play ball for his own team. Judge Ellen Ribaudo, who oversaw the first TRO, has a hearing set for 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The NCAA Jumps Back In, Making This Even Crazier
Just when you thought it couldn’t get more complex, the NCAA is throwing its own wrench into the works. They’ve filed a motion to dismiss Webb’s *original* temporary restraining order entirely. So, on Wednesday, we’re likely going to see both Webb’s new petition against the university *and* the NCAA’s attempt to revoke his initial win come up in court. The NCAA’s got some history overturning TROs, too, with wins in Ohio, Tennessee, and even at the federal level in Colorado. But here’s the wild part: apparently, no one’s seen anything like this new move. Mit Winter, a college sports law attorney, posted to X that he thinks this is a “first in the 5-in-5 cases.” The Columbia Daily Tribune hasn’t seen a player seek injunctive relief against the university they intend to play for. It’s absolutely unprecedented.
Mizzou kicks off their season with a home game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 p.m. Thursday, barely a day and a half after Webb’s crucial hearing. He’s on the Tigers’ depth chart, expected to be a major force on that defensive line. But will he actually be out there? That Wednesday hearing is gonna dictate everything. Talk about high stakes for opening night!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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