Who makes the most money among college football players?

I've been looking into different aspects of college football recently, and a topic that really caught my attention is player payments. I mean, I've heard of college players getting paid, but I really don't know much about it. For instance, who are the college football players who actually get paid the most? Is there a cap on how much they can earn? Is it common for most college football players to get paid?

As of July 2021, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) changed its rules to allow college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This is referred to as NIL deals. It's a significant rule change because it allows student-athletes to earn income that was previously prohibited by the NCAA.

Who gets paid the most, however, tends to have less to do with on-field performance and more with the player's marketability, the fan base of their sport and school, and other factors. So far, the most lucrative deals tend to be with high-profile athletes in high-profile programs. For example, Quarterbacks from big-name schools are likely to receive significant NIL deals due to their visibility and the popularity of the sport.

As for a cap, there's no NCAA-imposed cap on how much a student-athlete can earn from NIL deals. The earnings are determined by market factors and can vary greatly. However, all NIL activities must comply with state and federal laws, and some states have implemented their own laws and regulations regarding NIL compensation. So, while there's no NCAA-imposed cap, there may be restrictions depending on an athlete's specific location and situation.

It's important to note that not all college athletes will have the opportunity to profit from NIL deals. While the new rules allow for this possibility, the reality is that a small percentage of athletes have the visibility and marketability to secure significant NIL deals. It will mostly benefit athletes in popular sports or those who play for well-known teams.

Keep in mind that even though student-athletes can now earn money from their NIL, they are still not considered employees of their schools, and the schools themselves cannot pay them for participating in their sport. It's a key distinction because there's a debate about whether college athletes should be paid directly by their institutions, but that's a separate and complex issue and not currently allowed under NCAA rules.