Missouri got a welcome bit of clarity on Wednesday morning as Sterling Webb’s push for a fifth season of eligibility took another step in his favor.
The veteran defensive tackle has been in the middle of an NCAA dispute all offseason, part of a wider wave of college football players seeking court decisions that would keep them on the field for one more year. Webb’s case mattered especially for the Tigers, who are set to open Week 1 this Saturday against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
According to Mizzou beat writer Eli Hoff, the temporary restraining order Webb has against the NCAA will remain in place after a St. Louis judge’s ruling. That keeps Webb eligible to play, at least for now, while the legal process continues.
Hoff reported: “The TRO making #Mizzou DT Sterling Webb eligible to play remains in place after a St. Louis County judge this morning denied the NCAA's motion to dismiss it, per @KatieKull1, who was there for @stltoday.
The judge did add the University of Missouri to the TRO, which appears to…”
For Missouri, the timing is important. The Tigers are coming off an 8-5 2025 season and now have Webb available as they start preparing for another year.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz was asked about the ruling and offered a line that fit the moment perfectly: “I just got a tweet … Looks like we’re ready to go. I mean, I don’t know what to tell you. Just wait for tweets - that’s all I do.”
Webb’s longer-term status is still unsettled, but the immediate result is clear: the fifth-year defensive tackle appears set to be on the field for Missouri on Saturdays, at least for now.
In Other News...
LSU Just Got Pulled Into A Roster Fight With Real Stakes
LSUs offseason has taken on a legal edge, with the SEC filing a lawsuit against the school, its Board of Supervisors, president Wade Rousse, athletic director Verge Ausberry and head coach Lane Kiffin over how the program has gone about recruiting former professional athletes. The conferences complaint argues that LSU crossed a line under SEC rules and is asking a court to step in before the dispute grows into something bigger than a roster issue.
The filing is aimed at stopping LSU from being tied to conduct the league says runs counter to its purpose, and the crux of the dispute centers on players who previously signed NFL contracts. At the same time, a separate hearing in Baton Rouge is still working through whether those players should be considered eligible under NCAA and SEC rules, leaving LSU in the middle of a fight with real stakes and no immediate resolution in sight. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Lands In A High Stakes Eligibility Fight Before The Opener
With the opener looming, LSU has been pulled into a dispute that stretches well beyond the usual late-summer roster chatter. The SEC has filed a federal lawsuit against the school, head coach Lane Kiffin and other administrators over the eligibility status of several potential players who spent time on NFL training camp rosters, pushing the issue into court just as teams are finalizing plans for the season.
The conference is seeking injunctions to stop LSU from violating league rules by recruiting and rostering professional athletes, arguing the schools approach is harming the SEC as a whole. A separate state court hearing is also moving forward on the eligibility of specific players, including DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris, adding another layer to a situation that could shape LSUs available options before the first game is even played. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Added A Homegrown Twist To Its Clemson Spotlight
College GameDay is rolling into Baton Rouge with a distinctly Louisiana flavor before LSUs showdown with Clemson, and the guest picker this time is bringing some Bayou State star power with her. Lainey Wilson, the country music artist from Louisiana, will serve in the celebrity role and also perform live on the show as the pregame spotlight gets going at 8 a.m. CT.
The staging only adds to what should already be a packed scene, with Rece Davis hosting, Nick Saban among the analysts and Lane Kiffin set for a live appearance as the Tigers build toward kickoff. LSU and Clemson are scheduled to meet later that night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, giving the campus a full day to lean into the moment. [Read more 🡒]