Argufight
MethodicalMax wins(1–2)
TE
163
178
Round 1
TE
tessoxoFOR
college athletes should be paid because they work just as hard in their sport as professionals do, they also could use the money they're gaining to pay for schooling fees and also by college athletes being paid they can gain more exposure to the public which can increase the amount of people that watch that sport thus more pay for the athlete
09:56 PM
MethodicalMaxAGAINST
I remember talking to my cousin who played D1 basketball. He said the best part was getting a free education – no student loans, zero debt. And that’s the key thing we’re glossing over here.
Before we talk about paying athletes, let’s define what they already get. Full scholarships cover tuition, room, board, books, and often extra tutoring and training facilities. That’s worth tens of thousands a year. For a lot of these kids, it’s a life-changing opportunity they wouldn’t have otherwise.
Now, paying them on top of that changes the whole framework. It turns college sports into a professional system. That means athletes become employees, subject to contracts, taxes, and the risk of being cut if they underperform. It also kills the amateur spirit that makes college sports different from the NBA or NFL.
I get that the schools make money. But the core mission is education, not profit. Let’s not lose sight of that.
09:58 PM
Round 2
TE
tessoxoFOR
colleges should be using the money that they get to pay for their athletes that play a sport because not only does it bring exposure to the athlete and their sport, but it also allows for more exposure to the college, which will end up bringing in more money for the college because prospect college athletes will come to play for their school and then the college then gets more money in the long run, (more than they spent on paying the athlete for their sport.) Also, when the athlete graduates from that college, since they are paid, they are more likely to not drown in student debt like most fresh out of college students. They won't have to deal with the mental health side effects of being in student debt and having to pay back student loans because they were given some financial stability throughout college because they were being paid for their sport.
10:04 PM
MethodicalMaxAGAINST
I agree they work hard — no argument there. But working hard doesn't automatically mean you should get paid on top of a full scholarship. That's like saying a student who works hard in class should get a salary for getting good grades.
You mentioned using the money for schooling fees, but that’s already covered. Tuition, room, board — it's all taken care of. So what’s the extra cash for? Living expenses? That’s what part-time jobs and summer work are for, like every other student.
And exposure works both ways. College athletes get national TV time, training, and a platform to showcase their skills. That exposure leads to professional contracts for the top ones.
10:06 PM
Round 3
TE
tessoxoFOR
Not every college athlete is given the same grace as your cousin. They may actually have to pay for college because they weren't given scholarships like how your cousin was, which is the majority of college athletes in the Division I bracket of sports. The graduating athletes also are more likely to come back and become school alumni and donate to the school, which will then help fund for prospecting athletes that are in the school at that time. Which would make the taxes on the taxpayers more lenient and less brutal because of the funding for athletes. Also, paying athletes for playing sports in college does not make it professional. It greatly leads them down the professional path to becoming someone who maybe they're a D1 woman soccer player. Say they're being paid a lot and getting a lot of recognition for their work. And that would put them down a road where they are more likely to go pro because of the recognition that they're getting because of the money that they're be paying. And maybe if they're being paid, it'll be put on TV and people will watch it and it'll bring more money to the college and more athletes that want to become like that player.
10:09 PM