The problem with concept of paying athletes is that the financial circumstances/rules are completely different among the 130 FBS football programs and 350+ basketball programs. The Bowling Green football program is not making millions, and no one is interested in paying their players for their likenesses or to endorse their products. Same is true for all, but a handful of the college basketball programs. Yes, Zion Williamson and Trevor Lawrence are grossly under-compensated for the revenue that they create for their school and for the NCAA. Rondale Watson and Zach Dziengelewski (reserve OL for Bowling Green) not so much. The idea that every athlete should receive the same amount is almost as unfair as not paying them at all. Can you imagine any pro sports league paying each player the same amount regardless of their contribution? The idea of the same stipend for the star QB and for the 3rd team nose tackle who is lucky to have a scholly is total BS too.
If/when the free market opens on college football and basketball (and Title IX does create major roadblocks for that - how much profit does the WF women's basketball team generate? Less than zero; should the women be forced to pay money into the system if the program runs at a loss?), only a small fraction of schools are going to be able to play in that sandbox, and eventually, the star players from the most prominent programs will get the most (as they should) if players are going to paid what the market determines as fair. Could be wrong, but I see this as the end of WF sports attempting to compete at that level. WF does not and will never generate revenue (or have the same ability to generate sponsorships for its athletes) as the biggest schools with a national following. Mag League may be on its way.
By the way, basketball has an easier solution to this than football.
The NBA is on the verge (estimated to be 2022) of opening up the draft to HS graduates. Once that happens, HS athletes with ability generate revenue from endorsements and for simply playing basketball can elect to go straight to the pros (like baseball). Those that don't will have made the election to play under the rules that govern NCAA athletes. Football players don't have that option which further contributes to the argument that they should be paid when they are essentially forced to play in college before they can turn professional.
This is a great post.
As I have written several times, the current system works really well for everyone, including 99% of the student athletes. Ruining it for the very select few that are already going to make millions is a terrible idea. In fact, I think it is clearly the best system in the world, as it encourages academics, provides fantastic training and coaching for athletes, and creates an enjoyable product. There are many other systems for athletic training worldwide, and I think they are vastly inferior to the US college student-athlete system. If there is a better approach in practice, I would love to hear about it.