How do you know his stats weren't benefitted by not having to get a job?
How do you know his getting paid illicitly didn't help USC recruiting?
How do you know he didn't pitch his "perks" to other recruits?
If you asked players who weren't getting paid "if we got you a car and a stipend and got your family a house, do you think you could perform better," what do you think they would say?
Yeah, it's not the same as steroids, but is it really nothing?