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The recent slew of lawsuits filed against the NCAA seeking an additional year of eligibility in the wake of the recently approved age-based eligibility model in college sports has reached Missouri football.
Former Mizzou defensive tackle Sterling Webb filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the NCAA in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County seeking an additional year of eligibility in 2026, according to court documents reviewed by the Tribune. The news was first reported by Cody Goodwin at PowerMizzou.
Webb’s lawsuit asks the NCAA to use what its “own rules now promise every college athlete: five seasons of competition in five years.”
The NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously approved a change to its longstanding eligibility rules earlier this summer, officially known as the “age-based eligibility model.” The change will be fully implemented beginning in fall 2027, although the impact immediately can impact current college athletes with remaining eligibility.
In the now-approved rule change, an athlete will have five years to complete five full seasons of eligibility. The eligibility clock starts upon high school graduation or a person’s 19th birthday, whichever comes first. There will now be extremely limited medical redshirts and waivers.
That means many athletes who are eligible to play in the 2026-27 athletics season will now be eligible for an additional year. For instance, Mizzou seniors like Cayden Green and Brett Norfleet, who are about to use their fourth year of eligibility in four seasons, can now remain in college for a fifth season in 2027, if they choose. Under the previous rules, they would have ran out of eligibility after this year.
Here’s the reason for the legal challenge, which was widely expected when the rule change was proposed: The rule will not be applied retroactively.
That means any athlete, like Webb, who was a member of the Class of 2022 and completed their four years of eligibility in four seasons will not be granted an additional year. The NCAA has ruled that if your eligibility ran out after the 2025-26 athletic season, it is considered complete.
The defensive tackle from St. Louis played four years of college football, starting his career at New Mexico State before transferring to Mizzou ahead of the 2024 season. Webb played 25 games for Missouri, including 11 starts. He recorded 38 total tackles for the Tigers, including two sacks.
If he is granted an injunction against the NCAA, he would immediately be eligible for the 2026 football season. The Tigers are expected to start returning fifth-year defensive tackles Marquis Gracial and Jalen Marshall at the position.
Webb, as a recent starter, would almost certainly be part of the core rotation if he is ruled eligible and returns to Mizzou.
And the lawsuit indicates Missouri wants him back.
“Mizzou has a roster spot open for Webb, has name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) and revenue-sharing money available to him for his fifth season, and wants him on the field in 2026. Webb wants to play,” the lawsuit states. “The only thing standing between Webb and his final season is the NCAA.”
The defensive tackle went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and received a rookie minicamp offer from the Buffalo Bills.
More: Why Missouri football defensive tackles are case study in development
More: Biggest Missouri football fall competition is along the offensive line
Two other known former Mizzou athletes are involved in similar litigation, both from the MU men’s basketball team last season.
Center Shawn Phillips Jr. has been granted a temporary injunction by a judge in Ohio and appears to be eligible to join a new team this year, and Jevon Porter is part of a lawsuit that was filed in California.
There are several Mizzou football athletes who were in the Class of 2022 and completed four years of eligibility in four seasons: Defensive end Zion Young; wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr.; linebacker Khalil Jacobs; cornerback Toriano Pride Jr.; and defensive tackle Chris McClellan.
Four of those players, however, were drafted by NFL teams, and Jacobs earned a free-agent deal with the Patriots, making it more unlikely that they’ll file lawsuit as they participate in training camps ahead of the upcoming NFL season.
Mizzou reports for preseason camp on Aug. 3. The Tigers’ season-opening game is one month later against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3 in Columbia.
“Absent prompt relief from this Court, Webb will watch from the sideline, in his home state, in his final year, while the NCAA’s own current rule says he should be playing,” the lawsuit states. “A season lost now can never be replayed.”
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football alum Sterling Webb suing NCAA for eligibility
Continue reading...
Former Mizzou defensive tackle Sterling Webb filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the NCAA in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County seeking an additional year of eligibility in 2026, according to court documents reviewed by the Tribune. The news was first reported by Cody Goodwin at PowerMizzou.
Webb’s lawsuit asks the NCAA to use what its “own rules now promise every college athlete: five seasons of competition in five years.”
The NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously approved a change to its longstanding eligibility rules earlier this summer, officially known as the “age-based eligibility model.” The change will be fully implemented beginning in fall 2027, although the impact immediately can impact current college athletes with remaining eligibility.
In the now-approved rule change, an athlete will have five years to complete five full seasons of eligibility. The eligibility clock starts upon high school graduation or a person’s 19th birthday, whichever comes first. There will now be extremely limited medical redshirts and waivers.
That means many athletes who are eligible to play in the 2026-27 athletics season will now be eligible for an additional year. For instance, Mizzou seniors like Cayden Green and Brett Norfleet, who are about to use their fourth year of eligibility in four seasons, can now remain in college for a fifth season in 2027, if they choose. Under the previous rules, they would have ran out of eligibility after this year.
Here’s the reason for the legal challenge, which was widely expected when the rule change was proposed: The rule will not be applied retroactively.
That means any athlete, like Webb, who was a member of the Class of 2022 and completed their four years of eligibility in four seasons will not be granted an additional year. The NCAA has ruled that if your eligibility ran out after the 2025-26 athletic season, it is considered complete.
The defensive tackle from St. Louis played four years of college football, starting his career at New Mexico State before transferring to Mizzou ahead of the 2024 season. Webb played 25 games for Missouri, including 11 starts. He recorded 38 total tackles for the Tigers, including two sacks.
If he is granted an injunction against the NCAA, he would immediately be eligible for the 2026 football season. The Tigers are expected to start returning fifth-year defensive tackles Marquis Gracial and Jalen Marshall at the position.
Webb, as a recent starter, would almost certainly be part of the core rotation if he is ruled eligible and returns to Mizzou.
And the lawsuit indicates Missouri wants him back.
“Mizzou has a roster spot open for Webb, has name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) and revenue-sharing money available to him for his fifth season, and wants him on the field in 2026. Webb wants to play,” the lawsuit states. “The only thing standing between Webb and his final season is the NCAA.”
The defensive tackle went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and received a rookie minicamp offer from the Buffalo Bills.
More: Why Missouri football defensive tackles are case study in development
More: Biggest Missouri football fall competition is along the offensive line
Two other known former Mizzou athletes are involved in similar litigation, both from the MU men’s basketball team last season.
Center Shawn Phillips Jr. has been granted a temporary injunction by a judge in Ohio and appears to be eligible to join a new team this year, and Jevon Porter is part of a lawsuit that was filed in California.
There are several Mizzou football athletes who were in the Class of 2022 and completed four years of eligibility in four seasons: Defensive end Zion Young; wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr.; linebacker Khalil Jacobs; cornerback Toriano Pride Jr.; and defensive tackle Chris McClellan.
Four of those players, however, were drafted by NFL teams, and Jacobs earned a free-agent deal with the Patriots, making it more unlikely that they’ll file lawsuit as they participate in training camps ahead of the upcoming NFL season.
Mizzou reports for preseason camp on Aug. 3. The Tigers’ season-opening game is one month later against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3 in Columbia.
“Absent prompt relief from this Court, Webb will watch from the sideline, in his home state, in his final year, while the NCAA’s own current rule says he should be playing,” the lawsuit states. “A season lost now can never be replayed.”
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football alum Sterling Webb suing NCAA for eligibility
Continue reading...
