i think the premise that college atheletes should get directly paid is ridiculous. colleges are around to make sure that their students have a way of life beyond sports. if colleges formally start paying money (which i am sure they are already illegally doing), then there is no incentive to study.
Most of the money raised by the universities from these fat contracts is supposed to go towards enhancing the academic program.
It is only now that lots of student athletes are realizing the value of education after the disappointments of pursuing professional sports careers. for most of them, success is a mirage.
The system is glorifying the sport so much that athletes treat colleges as a watering hole. The sport has become a madness with so much money filling the coffers of universities.
if you look Alabama football, no one talks about the university anymore. it is only about the athletes and Nick Saban. Look at Ohio State, Urban Meyer and their star athletes. there is way too much money and it is not healthy at an academic level.
If the intent of universities is to distill and extract the top 50 athletes every year, then what about the 1000s who dont make it. by giving more money, you are guaranteeing a future that does not exist
maybe scholarship amounts should be raised and university spending severely audited?