Missouri lineman wins fifth year after judge sacks NCAA rule change

Missouri defensive lineman Sterling Webb claims a transition condition in the NCAA's new eligibility rule disproportionately affects him and the high school class of 2022.CLAYTON, Mo. (CN) — A St. Louis County judge ruled Thursday that a University of Missouri football player can suit up for a fifth season.Sterling Webb sued the NCAA on Tuesday, challenging the governing body’s new eligibility requirement. He said in his lawsuit that he is asking for nothing more than what the NCAA’s “own rules now promise every college athlete: five seasons of competition in five years.”St. Louis County Circuit Judge Ellen Ribaudo agreed, granting a temporary restraining order allowing Webb to join his teammates when preseason camp starts next week, while he seeks a more permanent order.At issue is a new NCAA rule, unanimously voted into effect in June, which scraps the old limit of four seasons of competition within a five-year period. The organization now uses an age-based model, where college athletes are given five years to compete in a five-year window, beginning either when they are fully enrolled in college, or the academic year after their 19th birthday.The rule also contains a transition condition, which strips fifth-year eligibility for colleges athletes who have already completed a fourth season of competition before the model takes effect, without a “redshirt year” in reserve.Webb says he qualifies for a fifth year according to everything in the rule except for the transition condition. The defensive lineman claims the transition condition unfairly targets the high school class of 2022, which already faced an uphill battle due to eligibility exceptions with the Covid-19 pandemic.Other college athletes from Ohio and Texas have successfully challenged the NCAA’s exclusion in similar legal proceedings.The NCAA, through its attorneys Jonathan Barton Potts and Stefani Leigh Wittenauer from the firm Bryan Cave, argued its rules the rules were well-considered and warned a ruling in Webb’s favor would actually disrupt the status quo.“Plaintiff’s request also impacts other student-athletes individually, including on campus at the University of Missouri, where current student-athletes, who are eligible to play, would have to compete with plaintiff for a roster spot, playing time, and a starting position,” the NCAA says in the motion. “The status quo is that another, currently eligible student-athlete will have the opportunity to occupy that roster spot, experience that playing time, and potentially start games for the University of Missouri football program. Creating additional eligibility for plaintiff, a former student-athlete, would disrupt, not preserve, the status quo.”Webb says he wants to return to Missouri, where he has been a defensive standout the last two seasons. Last year, he played in all 13 games for the Tigers and recorded 20 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and 23 total pressures.The St. Louis native claims he has a roster spot as well as endorsement and revenue-sharing money available upon his return.Webb, who is represented by Andrew W. Blackwell of Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, says he is not seeking any monetary damages.Neither side immediately responded to a request for comment. More proceedings are scheduled in the coming weeks to reach a permanent decision.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads