Charles Bediako case takes another twist after latest ruling

Monday's ruling is an attempt to put the genie back in the bottle after several cases questioned the NCAA's governing power. In most instances, courts have sided with players. In others, the NCAA has elected against pursuing legal action and granted eligibility, such as with Baylor Bears center James Nnaji, the first overall pick of the second round in the 2023 NBA Draft, who had his rights traded as recently as October 2024 and played Summer League basketball for the New York Knicks in 2025.

But whereas Bediako signed an NBA contract, Nnaji never has, which provided enough gray area for the NCAA to balk at preventing him from playing. It might seem like an insignificant difference, but at a certain point, players cross a threshold that should make them ineligible for college sports. Without it, any professional with eligibility remaining could go back to college at any time. If getting drafted doesn't cross the line, signing an NBA contract should.

Neither Alabama nor Bediako deserves to be vilified for attempting to stretch the limits of what the NCAA would allow. In an era without many clearly defined rules, they were within their rights to see if the NCAA would give another inch.

But Monday's decision shows some boundaries remain in place.