SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Weighs In on Charles Bediako Case Ahead of Alabama-Auburn Showdown
With one of the SEC’s marquee rivalry games looming, the Charles Bediako eligibility saga has taken a significant turn - and now, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has officially stepped into the fray.
In a court filing, Sankey urged the judiciary to uphold the NCAA’s eligibility rules, effectively advocating for Bediako to be ruled ineligible to continue playing for Alabama. His statement wasn’t just a procedural endorsement of NCAA authority - it was a clear message about the broader implications for college sports.
“I respectfully ask the Court to uphold the NCAA eligibility rules challenged in this case, which are essential to the integrity of college sports, to the educational mission they serve, and to the opportunities they provide for current and future student-athletes,” Sankey said.
That’s a strong stance, especially with Alabama set to travel across the state for a high-stakes clash with Auburn - a game that could be played without Bediako if the court rules against him. The hearing is scheduled for Friday, just hours before tip-off.
If this is indeed the end of Bediako’s brief return to college hoops, it’ll have lasted just four games. During that stretch, Alabama went 2-2, notching wins over Missouri and Texas A&M while falling to Tennessee and Florida. Bediako’s eligibility was temporarily restored twice via restraining orders - one of which was granted after NCAA representatives were unable to attend the initial hearing due to travel issues caused by weather.
On the floor, Bediako made the most of his limited window. Averaging 21.5 minutes per game, he posted a solid stat line: 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. Head coach Nate Oats used him flexibly - sometimes as a starter, sometimes off the bench - and while the sample size was small, Bediako’s presence added size, rim protection, and interior scoring that Alabama could sorely miss if he’s sidelined for good.
Oats, speaking after Alabama’s recent loss to Florida, didn’t shy away from addressing the broader tension surrounding the case - particularly as it relates to NIL and eligibility rules.
“(The NCAA) need(s) to draw a line, and I think Charles’ people thought the line shouldn’t have been drawn that’s gonna favor all the internationals and not allow the Americans to be able to make the money, and I think that’s kind of where they thought the line should be drawn somewhere else,” Oats said.
It’s a complicated issue, and one that cuts to the heart of ongoing debates around fairness, NIL, and the evolving structure of college athletics. For now, the court has the final say - and both sides will get their chance to make their case.
No matter how the ruling shakes out, it’s clear this decision will carry weight far beyond Friday night’s tip-off. For Bediako, Alabama, and the broader college basketball landscape, the outcome could help define how eligibility and NIL intertwine moving forward.