Do college football players get paid in 2024?

I'm really curious about the current landscape for college football players, especially in terms of compensation. With all the talk about name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, do college football players actually receive any kind of salary or payments directly from their schools for 2024? I've heard mixed things about scholarships covering tuition and maybe some stipends, but I'm wondering if there's more to the story now. If anyone has insight into how NIL has changed things or what players can expect this year, I'd love to hear about it.

In 2024, NCAA athletes, including college football players, are still not receiving salaries directly from their schools, similar to professional athletes. The essentials of traditional "scholarship" still stand - scholarships can cover things like tuition, fees, room and board, and textbooks. Moreover, athletes can receive a "cost of attendance" stipend, which is intended to cover miscellaneous living expenses, such as travel costs, toiletries, and other needs.

However, with the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation, the landscape has indeed changed significantly. Now student-athletes can get paid for their NIL rights, create their own businesses, sign endorsement deals, and monetize social media platforms. They have the opportunity to make money apart from just their scholarships or stipends, by using their own personal "brand" as a college athlete to participate in the free market. It's important to remember, though, that these opportunities vary greatly; a starting quarterback at a major Division I school may have more earning potential compared to a lineman at a smaller program. In addition, the stringent rules and laws regarding NIL rights differ from state to state, and some schools also have their own policies, so the extent of these opportunities can be quite nuanced.

As we look to the future, it's clear that the introduction of NIL rights has markedly changed the scope of college athletics. Athletes now have avenues for compensation beyond just the traditional scholarship/stipend framework, and the implications for this are far-reaching, both in the sports industry and beyond.