In futbol teams make money via transfer fees when players under contract move on to bigger clubs. Currently, when a player at Alabama goes to the NFL, Alabama does not recover any of its costs associated with the player's recruitment, development, and maintenance. Part of the reason the NFL is so profitable is that youth development is subsidized by parents, then (often public) middle and high schools, and finally (often public) colleges and universities.

Alabama had 56 players on NFL rosters at the start of the season. https://www.al.com/sports/2019/09/alabama-leads-colleges-in-...