One of the charms of college football was the amateur status, which got chipped away gradually, but in Coach Bryant's day, a student committed to a university, and honored that commitment, and stayed there for his entire college career. He would never get as big or fast or skilled as his NFL counterparts, but he loved his university and his university loved him. You loved him when he failed and you loved him when he triumphed.NIL is holding schools and fans hostage. Either pay the ransom or so and so players will go somewhere else. Even after paying they still might. These same Bama players who ran like scalded dogs as soon as Saban announced his retirement may have bolted at some point anyway, even if Saban hadn't retired
school loyalty and/or education are DEAD
If I wanted to watch a pro football league, I'd watch the NFL. They are all bigger, faster, and vastly more skilled than their college counterparts. And more mercenary. They will transfer teams for money. Not blaming them, but the reciprocal love is not there.