So, in it's current format, this should not be pay for play, correct? If we can't agree on that, we won't be able to agree on the main point of my comment.
I think a student athlete needs to come onto campus without any promises of anything other than a scholarship. Give them real opportunities to market themselves. Unless I am missing something, most of these basketball and football players are getting paid to just show up. Quinn Ewers was offered 8 million dollars to stay in school. To do what?
These athletes with 2 million dollar NIL deals (extreme I know, but the same can be said for 100 or 200 thousand dollar deals too) are doing what exactly for them? I believe the high majority of this money is just dead money after it's handed out. I know ISU is different to a point and We Will requires (or at least did) something to be done for the money. But you can't tell me Student-Athletes do anything worth 2 million dollars in marketing. There is no way these donors are getting any ROI which is what NIL is designed for. Mutually benefitting the company and the athlete.
I understand the students aren't getting what they deserve in most cases even with NIL payments, but that is why they need to unionize and create a pay structure that is feasible, create a salary cap, create REAL penalties for violators that are even across the board. It will require, undoubtedly, profit sharing between the universities. It will require coaches to not demand 10 million dollar deals. It will require, honestly, a revolution in college athletics for anything remotely close to exist, and I get that.
We won't agree on public knowledge, but there is a reason every pro sport does it.
/rant