Who said there was only one factor?
One of the early association reasons was “let’s compensate players similarly” with scholarships, for instance. They’ve always been closely linked.
The ACC wouldn’t have taken Miami and VT if they weren’t trying to get good players.
People have given players scholarships for nearly a hundred years. They’ve paid more under the table for almost long time too. They do it because it works. Getting better players improves their results and results in both pride and $$& that they can use to further advantage themselves. It’s plain to see in the history and present both.
Do you really think they’re all just stupid and throwing away all that money for no effect?
The issues were 1) whether or not back in the day colleges and universities were unfairly exploiting college athletes, i.e. making money off the backs of unfairly uncompensated athletes; (You yourself, however, acknowledge that for a hundred years, they were in fact compensated.) and 2) whether the current system of NIL and the Transfer portal was what we had been calling for.
So let me clarify: 1) No, I don't feel that colleges and universities are making millions off of the backs of athletes, that is unfairly exploiting the players. I feel that colleges and universities are, as they have been, making millions off of their athletic association/affiliations with each other, which also always provided some benefits to college athletes as well, i.e. free education, training and development. Moreover, having the best players/athletes has not been and is not a requirement for the money (Ticket sells, TV and Donations) to flow to associated schools, as demonstrated by the histories of various associations barring of the best players, i.e. freshmen, professionals, fifth year players, blacks, etc. from participating.
2) Concerning NIL and the transfer portal - I'm not against and don't begrudge the new student athlete autonomy; however, free agency is why I lost interest in following the NFL, Major League Baseball and College Basketball. Now, I don't know if or how long I'll maintain interest the College Football.