I think this argument plays a lot better once this 20mil payment mandate kicks in because right now nothing of what you’re saying is happening.
All P4 conferences are making more money then they have ever made in history. Ratings have been going up. ISU just had a record setting season, ASU won its first outright conference title in 30 years and made its first playoff, SMU, Boise, and Indiana also had similar seasons. Colorado is relevant for the first time in decades.
In basketball BYU just landed the number 1 overall recruit, UConn is coming off back to back championships, and ISU has a shot at a 1 seed.
Women’s basketball (and in a very minor case gymnastics) has never had better ratings or awareness.
Again, I totally get looking down at the future and seeing huge issues but right now this idea that college athletics and athletes are doing anything but amazing is completely misplaced.
First, on-field results is an unrelated issue to the financial issues this thread is mainly dealing with.
The highlighted portion of your statement is half right and maybe your wording was intentionally deceptive. It is valid if one is looking backward and not toward the future. Which really matters in money matters.
The Big10 & SEC recent Conference TV deals plus their CFP money grab will result in their school's Athletic Department Revenues jumping $40M annually over the next half decade. Whereas, the Big12 & ACC are still operating under historical TV contracts and will only see their CFP revenue grow $5M(Big12) to $10M (ACC) annually with the new 12 team format.
For the Big10/SEC their go-forward revenue will cover the $20Mish athlete benefit cost plus the Big10/SEC Athletic Departments will have an additional $20M of new money. While the Big12 & ACC will need to find new revenue sources or cut costs to pay for at least half of the $20M athlete benefit.
So there's a lot positive happening on the field in 2024, but with future financial realities will it continue? IMO we'll find out over the next few years.