But whatever it ultimately provides obviously won't help students as much as would direct cash payments. Of course, the biggest benefit for athletes is supposed to be a free education. That sounds like a lot. In effect, athletes must pay for the privilege of playing. Aid also isn't a lot compared to what real professionals pull in.
Professional players are the stars people come to see and are paid accordingly.
But not student stars. School aid is also chump change compared to what many coaches earn. Coaches make additional money from endorsements by putting their players into the shoes of one manufacturer or another. But there's a more fundamental point. They just want to play sports.