If we're solely talking about underpaid, then the absolute peak value of a college football player at the top of the game is probably under 10 million. IMO, the value of Saban is probably closer to 60 or 70 million[0], so he is more underpaid. Of course, the situation for players is a much more egregious underpayment.

[0] Really hard to quantify, but comparing the revenue effects and higher order revenue generation of programs with elite head coaches to mediocre head coaches leads to this value.

Depends on how you're measuring. Saban is making about 8mil (lazy math) and you think he's worth 70. Let's go crazy, and say he's actually even more valuable, and worth 80 million.

So he's making about 1/10th what he should, or 10% of his value.

Best student athlete is worth 8 million. They make $0. They're making 0% of their total value back.

The cost of the education is meaningless. It's all arbitrary and basically monopoly money costs. Oh, you're getting a full ride to a school that would normally charge you $50K? That's great, but it's not of real value in the same way that actual cash is.

This is why I'm a big fan of California's move to allow students to take endorsements.

They get room, board, all they can eat, an education (with an incredible amount of tutoring that is not available to the average student) and training that they absolutely could not get anywhere else. There's no market for minor league football in the US and there never will be.

Of course there won't be. Why would you create a minor league football program when you're competing against colleges that have: 1- Long term history with their fans 2- Better proximity to fanbases 3- No labor costs for their players 4- Stadiums and infrastructure already in place.

There is a market for minor league football, and that market is being met by college sports.

> What about the athletes themselves who are taking years off their lives, while getting absolutely no compensation?

1. They are compensated with a degree, and not to mention the "luxury" benefits that come with being an athlete: better food, housing, tutors, golf carts for class, etc.

2. No one is forcing them to go to college.

>20% of D1 college players don't even graduate.

If you get injured, poof scholarship

Just because no one is forcing them to do it doesn’t mean it’s not exploitative. No one forces people to work in sweatshops.