If you take a look back in the world of college sports, there has always been a constant hot issue: the debate of whether or not college athletes should be paid. Fast forward to today and the top athletes are now getting paid millions of dollars annually by their schools and brand deals. There are definitely pros that come with college athletes being compensated for their hard work, but there are also many cons.

One of the many pros created by Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) money is the diversity in talent across the country. No matter where you go, talented athletes will compete with whatever their competition is. This is due to the transfer portal along with NIL money. Players who get paid the top dollar will start and take other players’ roster spots who aren’t as well-known or hyped. This causes a frenzy in the transfer portal. Often, players who are good enough to start for a top rated team end up transferring because they want to play instead of riding the bench behind a player who will never allow them to shine. Many players enter the transfer portal and commit to smaller, less-known teams to get their chance to play. 

Now that talent is spread out throughout the country, upsets are happening everywhere. For example, in the NCAA tournament this year, the number 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson beat number one seed Purdue in the first round of the tournament. Many other upsets happened throughout the tournament, but the moral of the story is that talent is everywhere. Instead of the usual first and second seeds making the Final Four, teams seeded ninth, fifth and fourth made the Final Four. This was one of the lowest-seeded Final Fours of all time. This is a prime example of teams crafted through the transfer portal forming up and winning when it mattered. 

But, there are also many flaws to NIL money. Basketball and football are the most watched college sports and are the two sports that spend the most NIL money. Although these sports draw in the most revenue, some feel that it isn’t fair that they also deserve to have bigger budgets. All collegiate teams and sports deserve equal financial compensation because all collegiate athletes work hard enough and are good enough to earn money. 

Additionally, many people also feel that most collegiate athletes are already on scholarships and don’t need to be making money. However, only 7% of college students receive scholarships and around 62% of college athletes are on scholarships. One could argue that college sports generate money, which allows them to put their athletes on scholarships. This argument is fair because college sports create and regenerate to keep their programs alive. But one could also claim that this is unfair to other students who worked just as hard on academics instead of sports but aren’t rewarded with scholarship money to help aid them throughout their college career, but also aids them with lower student loans and other economic factors.

Another pro presented by the NIL money supporters would be the duration of careers in all sports. In the five years right before the NIL money bill was passed, there were lots of players leaving college early instead of staying for one or two more years. This is good for teams and fans who want to watch their favorite college teams be successful. Most of the time, players with more college sports experience tend to be more successful. The reason for the increase in the number of players staying for one to two more years is due to the NIL money. Players who feel they might not make it to the NBA or NFL feel more comfortable making money in college. This is a safe alternative to taking a risk in their first year of college, and if the players aren’t drafted, they are left possibly broke and/or jobless. College NIL money provides a safe option for athletes who either enjoy the college experience or don’t feel safe enough to enter their respective draft.

Overall, the pros of NIL money outweigh the cons. The fan appeal and the diversity of the teams provide a very interesting, unusual aspect to college sports that hasn’t been seen before by college fans and players. The NCAA and its teams are moving in the right direction with the NIL money, and over time, the fan appeal should increase, which is the most important thing for the NCAA and its business.