{"id":85437,"date":"2026-02-08T12:03:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T17:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=85437"},"modified":"2026-02-08T12:04:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T17:04:04","slug":"sorry-greg-sankey-all-politics-is-now-local","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2026\/02\/08\/sorry-greg-sankey-all-politics-is-now-local\/","title":{"rendered":"Sorry, Greg Sankey: All Politics Is Now Local"},"content":{"rendered":"
Greg Sankey is the Godfather. Unlike Jim Phillips, alignment is not an issue in the conference. When he speaks, the conference and the rest of the college football world listen. That has been the fundamental narrative surrounding Sankey and his leadership of the Southeastern Conference. But one has to wonder whether that narrative will remain true going forward.<\/span><\/div>\n
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College football and college athletics are undergoing a fundamental change that will forever alter how games are played and how commissioners and the NCAA oversee the sport. Sankey said as much last year at <\/span>SEC Media Days<\/a><\/span>. “College athletics is not broken, but it is strained. In the middle of anything significant, it will get messy. That doesn\u2019t mean you leave… the burden of making a new system work is certainly on commissioners.”<\/span><\/div>\n
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The SEC has three prominent eligibility cases that could shape the future of college athletics. \u00a0While Sankey is not going anywhere (we hope), the legal challenges could create burdens and a new system that diminishes Sankey’s power, just as the NCAA’s oversight of the Southeastern Conference has.<\/span><\/div>\n

Sorry, Greg Sankey: All Politics Is Now Local<\/span><\/h2>\n

Alabama Basketball<\/span><\/h3>\n
The SEC offices are located just outside of Tuscaloosa in Birmingham. Alabama has been a source of pride in the SEC. Their run in football furthered the narrative of the conference’s dominance. With Saban gone, they have had to face the facts and learn how the other half lives. Alabama football is not keeping Sankey up at night; instead, it is the Tide’s men’s basketball program. The Tide is a team coming off of Final Four and Elite Eight appearances, but the problems have nothing to do with its play on the court.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Instead, Alabama center <\/span>Charles Bediako<\/a><\/span> made national headlines by returning to the Crimson Tide after spending parts of three seasons in the NBA G League. We now know NIL has muddied the waters between professional and amateur status. But how could this happen? Judge James H. Roberts Jr. granted a Temporary Restraining Order that immediately reinstated Bediako\u2019s eligibility. It also blocked the NCAA from enforcing its amateurism rules against him or penalizing the University of Alabama for playing him. The ruling is mind-boggling until you dig just a little deeper into Roberts.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Roberts is a circuit court judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Alabama, which serves Tuscaloosa County. Bediako and his team knew the rules of the game. If they brought suit against the NCAA in federal court, the odds would not be in their favor. Instead, they brought the suit in a friendly county before a judge who just happens to be an Alabama donor who has contributed more than $100K to the Crimson Tide Foundation.<\/span><\/div>\n

Greg Sankey vs. Alabama<\/span><\/h3>\n
In response, Sankey filed an affidavit supporting the NCAA\u2019s attempt to block Bediako, fearing that this localized “courtroom eligibility” would ruin the college athletics and what little integrity it still had. In February, he wrote, “I respectfully ask the court to uphold the NCAA eligibility rules challenged in this case, which are essential to the integrity of college sports… Inconsistent application of these rules \u2014 through court rulings or otherwise \u2014 fuels disruption.”<\/span><\/div>\n
Let’s go back to our opening line of this article: Greg Sankey is the Godfather. You don’t have to watch Goodfellas or The Godfather to see nobody goes against The Don. It just doesn’t end well, ask Tommy or Fredo. We are in a new world. Let’s look at the responses to the ruling from Alabama Basketball coach Nate Oates and the Tide’s Athletic Director, Greg Byrne.<\/span><\/div>\n
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While Oates agrees the system is “broken,” who is he to get in the way? “First of all, the system’s clearly broken. I’m all for figuring out a way to fix it. But since the NCAA has already allowed professionals to play… You tell me how I’m supposed to tell Charles and the team that we’re gonna not going to support them when he’s been deemed legally eligible to play.” What a player’s coach…<\/span><\/div>\n
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In an official statement after the ruling, the Tide’s Athletic Director stuck to academics rather than further igniting the controversy. “The University of Alabama supports Charles and his ongoing efforts to be reinstated for competition while he works to complete his degree.”<\/span><\/div>\n
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Both responses are lame, but show a chasm starting to form in the SEC between the schools and Sankey.<\/span><\/div>\n

What Can Greg Sankey Do?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Sankey’s affidavit fell flat. Just Roberts recused himself over “appearance of partiality” in the case. In his place, Judge Daniel F. Pruet held a preliminary injunction hearing. While he did not issue a final ruling immediately, he allowed the original TRO to remain in place until at least February 10, 2026. While Pruet is not listed as an Alabama booster, he holds both an undergraduate and a law degree from Alabama. Politics remains local.<\/span><\/div>\n
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So, here we wait. Will this case go any further through the courts? Maybe, but by that time, Alabama and Bediako will probably be knocked out of the tournament during the first weekend of March Madness. The real impact is that Greg Sankey, once thought of as the voice of the SEC and college football, is losing his influence and, let’s be honest, his authority. He can provide guidance and talking points, but it will be up to the schools to determine whether they want to follow them or continue to pursue their best interests.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Let’s face it, the idea of the NCAA and SEC only works if the schools that are part of it come together and say, ” Yep, we will agree and follow these policies.” \u00a0When those policies conflict, they will be challenged in local courts. Where local rulings will likely be bent in their favor. Look no further than two “local” rulings that could have a big impact on SEC football in 2026.<\/span><\/div>\n

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Tennessee & Ole Miss Football<\/span><\/h3>\n
“Lots of people go to college for seven years. Yeah, they’re called doctors.” If you get the reference, make sure to schedule your appointment to have your prostate checked. Two of the top SEC quarterbacks in 2025 are looking to extend their time in college and run it back again in 2026. While they are not professionals like Bediako, they are using his localized approach to get their way.<\/span><\/div>\n