Before NIL, players couldn't sign with an agent an maintain their amateur status. So, to declare one had to forgo their collegiate eligibility. What would stop the players from entering the draft, not liking who drafted them, and returning to college? The NFL could try to stop this, but where would they get talent if not from college? Players in college can be paid now.
College football could do a lot for the brand if they allowed players to return if they didn't like where they were drafted, and the NFL couldn't sanction these players if a lot of them wanted this rule change.
Arch Manning made more money than Brock Purdy did. This could possibly change everything about how the NFL pays their players, and it could keep talent playing on Saturday longer.
Surely projected 1st round guys would go, and guys with no eligibility would go, but think about if Daniels were to slip out of the 1st round, which probably won't happen. But why shouldn't he be able to say, "frick this 3rd-4th round NFL money. I can make $3-5m at LSU. Perhaps increase my draft stock."
College football should really be looking to exploiting this. It's rare that they've had the upper hand on the NFL because of dollars. That's no longer the case. frick the NFL.

Edit: College football could also increase eligibility to 6-8 years as well. Like I said, frick the NFL. College football owes them nothing.
Perhaps have zero rules about eligibility. As long as you're enrolled in a program, you can play. Start seriously competing with the NFL. College football is changing, like it or not. Why not lean into the changes?

This post was edited on 12/24/23 at 4:23 pm