What would you choose, 50K and pay taxes or 250K and pay no taxes?

A degree in general studies and African american history is not worth 250k old man

There is a such thing of taxable scholarships when the scholarship exceeds qualified expenses. Athletes not filing taxes wouldn't be the riskiest assumption since they aren't allowed to have W2/1099 compensation.

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f I get the free ride I am getting the most valuable degree I can.

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That sounds pretty easy, why didn't you go that route?

Well they are not getting free rides due to their exceptional academic work

You can’t get an accounting degree, if you’re at a 3rd grade math level. Athletes get moved through schools bc of their athletic skills. Some of these kids only chance is sports or manual labor.

Why is this an either/or question?

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A 4 year academic scholarship may be worth 250K upfront

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If you attended a school without athletic scholarships hard to get one for playing sports.

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If the school wants a player they get them a scholarship.
It might be academic, citizenship.....but they find money for a player they want. I would be willing to bet that most players in the Ivy League have some type of financial assistance that covers most if not all of their expenses. I know of a kid that went to an Ivy League school to wrestle,and he got money.

He's probably not too far off. Duke tuition is about $40,000 a year, then when you factor in food, books, dorm and stipends....

And it's not just Duke...count Stanford, UCLA, Cal, Northwestern, GT...

Most public schools wouldn't be that high, though, I wouldn't think.

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Most public schools wouldn't be that high, though, I wouldn't think.

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The average SEC cost (out of state) for tuition and fees is $29k. Factor in $10k for living expenses and you are right around the $40k # you mentioned.

Then, you have to account for quality of living and other amenities and perks that student-athletes receive over your typical student: health services, tutoring/academic assistance, food/supplements, personal trainers, priority classes, better dorms, etc. These all add to the value of their scholarships. Plus, stipends they receive for other living expenses

Plus, we are neglecting the fact that the NCAA, conferences, coaches and schools add to the value of a "person's individual likeness." It is essentially a unique promotional package for the "player" that includes a varied degree of exposure and opportunity. How does that factor into the value of a college athletes likeness, do they need to pay their cut on that promotion?

I am for the players being able to profit more as individuals, but do not like the condition it creates for exploitation, gray area and abuse. There are reasons the current rules exist, and yes, the rules do need to evolve. Hell, athletic scholarships led to the first real reform in college athletics, as many institutions thought that was "pay for play" and diluted the student-athlete design.

I'd rather see percentages of revenue distributed on the backend of their college years or perhaps even annually... based on merchandise sales and other marketing items directly reflecting an individuals likeness; plus, an equal distribution by sport based on revenue generated.

If the player was popular and talented enough in school, they will still have a market after school for other efforts. But, keeping the $100 dollar handshakes under the table is prefferred to guarantees of $1000s in potential endorsement deals if a player attends a certain boosters prefferred school, which is directly where this will lead. HS kids will need agents to consult with before national signing day, as it literally becomes a business decision.