Someday everyone is going to be told this is the “end of the line”, that’s why “senior day” is such a big deal in high school.
They are still getting the degree & the scholarship.
There’s only 85 spots on the roster. With NIL & the portal, those are earned.
In life, there’s unintended consequences when change is involved. The invention of the home computer & Google made buy encyclopedias or dialing 411 obsolete. Email & electronic pay made using stamps & the postal system less vital.
The other side of NIL (players are compensated aka “we aren’t in Kansas anymore”) & the portal (players can leave & those roster holes have to be filled).
Imho, it’s kind of like this on one hand the players can leave & get paid, on the other hand the coach has the flexibility to improve his roster, fill holes & get the best 85 players he can.
This provides both upward & downward mobility. A two star who plays like a 5 star will be courted & compensated as much, the same goes for the 5 star who plays like a 2 star. Much like many other situations in our society.
As Frank Sinatra sings “That’s Life” 🎵
Just my 2 cents, as always I could be wrong.