From @WSJopinion: The crisis of college athletics today is that too many of the athletes are simply hired hands, writes @wjmcgurnhttps://t.co/QgRQiF1nZ6 ...

Industry Trend - Sports are becoming less pure due to evolving financial dynamics [1][2] - The traditional view of college athletes playing for the love of the game is changing as athletes are now getting paid [2] - The catalyst for change may be teams realizing they cannot compete without embracing new financial models [3] Financial Implications - Teams may face difficult choices, such as diverting funds from medical or academic programs to pay athletes [3] - The core issue revolves around whether to sacrifice resources from other areas, like scholarships, to improve athletic performance [3]

RT Bloomberg Live (@BloombergLive)TUNE IN: College athletics is facing its biggest shakeup yet. @dartmouth’s Mike Harrity joins Bloomberg #PowerPlayers to break down how he’s managing the power and politics behind multimillion-dollar decisions.Live in New York 9/4 1:25 PM ET.https://t.co/vvYlp8iNTN https://t.co/RP8V2IFkCv ...

Industry Trend - College athletes in America are about to be paid directly by their universities, marking a significant shift [1] - The new system has the potential to reshape the college sports industry as a whole [1]

College Sports Landscape - The current state of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money is unsustainable and could lead to a "super league" of approximately 20 teams, disadvantaging other schools [2][3][6] - The executive order regarding paying college athletes lacks concrete rules or policies, raising questions about its enforceability and potential impact on federal funding for schools [4][7] - The NCAA has had rules against third-party NIL payments that are not brand sponsorships since 2021 [4] - College athletics leaders are uncertain about which rules to follow, including state laws, the executive order, House settlement terms, NCAA bylaws, or the College Sports Commission [7] Athlete Compensation and Rights - The only sustainable future for college athletics involves allowing athletes to organize into their own players association to negotiate terms of participation [5][8] - Enforcing rules without athlete involvement can lead to antitrust violations and legal challenges [9][13] - College football generates over $13 billion annually, and athletes are now beginning to receive a share of that revenue [12] - Athletes are being compensated through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which can be viewed as "pay for play" [12][13] Potential Solutions - Establishing clear and enforceable rules requires negotiation between schools, the NCAA, conferences, and athletes through a players association [8] - Classifying NIL deals as "pay for play" could enable the creation of real, enforceable rules, provided athletes are involved in the agreement [13]