A few years back, I had this discussion with a few friends. I'd be interested in hearing opposing views. I'm not steadfast in mine. While I love to watch college football, (Go Bucks!) I don't have a lot of knowledge of the inner workings. My knee jerk reaction has always been that the universities are making a ton of money off of college football players. As you said, they are young men who are risking career changing injury. I see no harm in them being compensated beyond a free education. There must be a lot of money being made off their backs if large companies are sliding the families of recruits six figures.