A worker deserves credit for their work, should they not? One does work to be paid. An artist may create a painting out of passion to paint, but they ultimately still sell their paintings. All this still applies to college athletes. They may play for the fun of the game, but they should still be paid. Not to mention that they could be in need of income to support themselves. An athlete who eats and lives poorly can't play well, and that would be a waste of their talent. Along with all of that, college athletes are like free advertisement. It's like saying how great a school is to have a player this talented. Just like how content creators are paid to show off brands, should a player not be paid to promote the college team they play for?

Yes, but remember, in the US, nearly half the students in college are working students. Sure, they may have a free ride and all the benefits, but everyone still has their own daily needs, like food, housing, transportation, school supplies, and more personal things. Not to mention, if they stay a working student, it will affect their health because of the extra strain of work AFTER all the classes, and affect their academics because time for studies being used for work to earn money.

It feels wrong to pay workers? It feels wrong to supply a student's passion? It feels wrong to help a person in need and to give them a life and a way out? It feels wrong to help grow a talent that would otherwise be wasted due to a lack of support? I think not. The pay isn't there for college sports to be a job, its there to grow a talent for the world to see.