Charles Bediako's attorneys recently had their motion to postpone his preliminary injunction hearing denied by a Tuscaloosa County judge, setting the stage for Friday to officially determine whether Bediako would be eligible for the rest of the season or if he played his final basketball game for the Crimson Tide on Wednesday against Texas A&M.
After being quiet throughout the process, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey issued a powerful affidavit asking the court to uphold NCAA eligibility standards and prevent Bediako from playing any further:
In a groundbreaking affidavit, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey urges a court to uphold NCAA eligibility standards and prevent Alabama’s Charles Bediako from playing, citing policies that are “essential to the integrity of college sports.”
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 5, 2026
Full story - https://t.co/acfpagzvwq pic.twitter.com/WnKc67N7c4
Of course, Sankey has been quiet as a church mouse as other professional athletes have been granted eligibility or been able to play via restraining orders. Alabama just played against one last night. Texas A&M's Rashaun Agee was only eligible to play this season due to a court order.
One of Bediako's attorneys had a sharp and immediate response to Sankey's affidavit.
Charles Bediako's attorney responds to Greg Sankey
Bediako attorney Darren Heitner had a quick and immediate response to Sankey through his X account on Thursday. Heitner calls out the NCAA's arbitrary decision-making, notably in their granting eligibility of former EuroLeague and NBA G-League professionals.
Heitner ends his statement by accusing Sankey of being biased.
"Sankey is not only biased but has a conflict of interest while serving in the role of SEC Commissioner."
Greg Sankey's emphasis on the need for consistent application of eligibility rules to avoid disruption in college sports is contradicted by the NCAA's own recent practices.
— Darren Heitner (@heitner) February 5, 2026
As evidenced by multiple eligibility grants, the NCAA has waived similar rules for former professional… https://t.co/J9heRpP8JN
Sankey's affidavit is certainly full of contradictions, perhaps none more notable than point three:
"To maintain eligibility to participate in college athletics, NCAA Bylaw 12.2.4 (Contracts and Compensation) provides that a student-athlete 'shall not enter into any kind of agreement to compete in professional athletics, either orally or in writing, regardless of the legal enforceability of that agreement.'"
Emphasis mine. But who are we kidding by citing that Bylaw? There are numerous players across college basketball who have played professionally for money. And hell, college athletics, particularly football and basketball, are effectively semi-professional at this point. Amateur athletics are dead, buried, and gone, and Bediako's case isn't going to change that.
Sankey's sanctimonious act doesn't move me, and likely won't move the judge in Tuscaloosa, either. But there does appear to be a very real possibility that Wednesday night's game against Texas A&M was the last time Bediako will suit up for the Crimson Tide.
Judgment day is Friday, and Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide might want to prepare for the worst outcome.