The back and forth and side to side of a Kentucky eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA has again swung in Mark Mitchell’s favor.
Mitchell is again — at least temporarily — eligible to compete for Missouri basketball after a judge granted a group of athletes a temporary injunction against the NCAA on Wednesday in Louisville, Kentucky.
The court case in Kentucky has seen several swings in the past two months.
Mitchell and the group of athletes suing the NCAA were initially granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, but that injunction was later dissolved by a court of appeals.
The court of appeals, in their decision, wrote, “nothing (stated) herein precludes the respondents from, upon proper motion, prospectively seeking CR 65.04 relief (i.e., a temporary injunction) from the circuit court.”
Which brings us to Wednesday, Oct. 14, when the circuit court convened for an evidentiary hearing.
Mizzou coach Dennis Gates was among the people who testified during the evidentiary hearing Wednesday in Louisville. He appeared at SEC Tipoff basketball media days one day earlier than his original timeslot this past week so that he could appear in court to support Mitchell.
In an 18-page ruling Friday, Judge Brian Edwards wrote: “Two coaches, Pat Kelsey of the University of Louisville and Dennis Gates of the University of Missouri, testified that allowing the Plaintiffs to compete for a fifth year would not take roster spots or deprive other players. The injunction will allow coaches to make their own roster decisions.”
The judge also wrote that the NCAA cannot preclude the plaintiffs in the case, including Mitchell, from participating in the 2026-27 collegiate season for the following key reasons:
- “On the basis that Plaintiffs have already competed in four seasons of competition.”
- “On the basis that the Plaintiff did not enter the NCAA transfer portal.”
- “On the basis that Plaintiffs executed a professional contract or agent contract, or participated in any professional games or practices, so long as Plaintiffs terminate all such contracts and return any money received (other than reasonable and necessary expenses) within seven days of entry of this Order.”
Gates also provided an affidavit of support for prospective Mizzou guard CJ Gunn in a court case that had a hearing Tuesday in Columbia. Judge Jeff Harris granted Gunn’s motion for a temporary restraining order against the NCAA on Wednesday, and there will be a further hearing for a preliminary injunction on Oct. 23.
More: Prospective Missouri basketball guard CJ Gunn granted TRO against NCAA in Boone County
More: Emptying notebook from Missouri basketball pro day, first look at 2026-27 team
So, for now, both Mitchell and Gunn are eligible to compete for the Tigers.
That could of course change.
Gunn, for instance, only received 10 days on his order. He will have another hearing for a preliminary injunction against the NCAA that could provide a more long-term solution for eligibility on Oct. 23 in Columbia.
Mitchell’s temporary injunction is also, well, “temporary.”
The NCAA will almost certainly challenge the ruling, and the case again will go to appellate court. Given that the season is due to begin in less than three weeks, it’s reasonable to assume that an appeals hearing will come sooner rather than later.
If the appellate court sides with Mitchell and the plaintiffs, he’s likely to be eligible for most, if not all, of Mizzou’s 2026-27 campaign.
If the appellate court again dissolves the temporary injunction, there’s a good chance Mitchell will re-file in Missouri — similar to Gunn.
Mizzou opens its season Nov. 3 against Cleveland State at Mizzou Arena.
Mitchell — and Gunn — both got eligibility wins this week.
But neither case is quite finished yet.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Mizzou basketball’s Mark Mitchell gets temporary eligibility win in court