The NCAA has completely lost control of eligibility

By Chris Marler

There are no words at this point. There are definitely no rules anymore either. 

On Wednesday Alabama announced that basketball forward Charles Bediako will be immediately eligible to return to action for the Crimson Tide. The problem with that? He left the team two years ago to turn pro. 

At the time it was kind of a shocking move considering where he projected in the NBA Draft (or didn’t for that matter) and that he would be a key piece returning to a team that was the No. 1 overall seed entering that year’s NCAA tournament. It’s even more shocking now that he’s allowed to return. 

He turned pro. Not only that but since then, he’s signed three professional contracts. Thanks to Baylor signing James Nnaji earlier this January, there was a precedent for Bediako to return. Also “precedent” is apparently a synonym for “loophole” and is Latin for a “really stupid way to do whatever you want because nothing is real anymore.”

NEW: Charles Bediako has been granted a temporary restraining order and is immediately eligible to participate for Alabama basketball.

Bediako is a professional player for the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League.

(h/t @_NickKelly)https://t.co/3KKnL1iPSJ pic.twitter.com/Chsv7Hd8Kl

— On3 (@On3) January 21, 2026

Nnaji was the No. 31 pick in the NBA Draft in 2023. He played in 132 professional games and was even a part of a trade. Bediako was undrafted and played in 46 pro games. 

I know what you’re thinking – that was probably a long time ago. Nope. Bediako played in a game of American basketball for the Motor City Cruise – wait for it – four days ago. Four! 

That’s especially wild considering part of the premise for all of this is that Bediako re-enrolled at the University of Alabama this semester in hopes of regaining eligibility and graduating. To the surprise of no one, the NCAA already gave their decision. It was a nod due to that whole signing multiple professional contracts thing. However, thanks to a judge allowing a temporary restraining order against the NCAA’s initial ruling, he is immediately eligible to play. That includes in their upcoming game against Tennessee this Saturday. 

Alabama has released a statement regarding Charles Bediako. pic.twitter.com/UYZ18sNRa8

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 21, 2026

For years college sports operated under the premise that if you were to enter your name in the professional draft for your sport, then your eligibility came to an end. Immediately. Those days are gone, there are no rules, and the guardrails and parameters for what’s real anymore are completely gone as well. Just like my dog Pepper can pretend she’s starving 12 minutes after eating her dinner and my Gen-Z nephew Brennan can announce he identifies as a cat at Thanksgiving dinner, college eligibility is equally vague, blurry, and well, stupid. 

Charles Bediako’s case is yet another example that the idea of amateurism is completely dead and the notion of logic and reason may be headed to the grave soon.