So would the next step be eliminating the granting of scholarships and just letting the players get NIL money instead? This would in turn lead to a new makeup of the team dynamic. First, this would probably just apply to football and basketball programs. And second, there would be two classes of athletes, one would still get scholarships and the other NIL money. For example, Kofi was making money but does someone like Brandon Lieb make anything via NIL? If not, then he would still be on scholarship. The NIL players would not even be required to attend classes anymore and the student/athlete designation becomes moot (in football and basketball). And those who make little or nothing via NIL still get a scholarship and attend classes, etc. So then they (both classes of players) become the basketball team or football team of the University of Illinois. Just like the Bulls are the professional basketball team of Chicago, the Fighting Illini become the basketball and football teams representing the U of I and is made up of NIL and scholarship players. This could also solve the problem of missed classes when Big Ten teams travel to UCLA or USC when they join. It doesn't affect the NIL players because they don't go to classes (not sure what they would spend their free time on though) and the scholarship players could do remote learning and, well whatever else to make up missed classes. Of course NIL players could attend classes if they wanted to get an education but how many do that anymore? Seems rare that a player who is good enough to get NIL money finishes college. Although, granted I don't know the statistics on that.
Okay I am a little all over the place on this but I was just thinking about all the comments about how money has become king in college sports so why give out scholarships anymore except to those who want an education and/or who aren't really good enough or well known enough to get an NIL deal. Just kind of throwing it out there. It certainly would change the job of recruiting. I am sure many will point out the errors of my postulate.
