be paid by the school they represent AND then be compensated for their time signing autographs, doing commercials or social posts... or NIL stuff.

This means that the school has the option to fire them if they underperform. Also, they need to use their own money to pay for school, food, housing.... as if they were a regular student. If they miss team meetings or classes, they can be fined. In other words, they are under contract.

This obviously only works if the NCAA had some actual power and leadership – like the commissioner of the NFL/NBA...

Also, some schools are more affordable than others. Their wages may have to be hire to 'pay for school'. I helped design for a recruiting site years ago. It worked for the few that used it. One kid got a $170K scholarship to a D3 school. Would I rather PAY $15K to attend BYU for 4 years or $170K to be at a midwestern D3 school on scholarship. Exactly.

I wonder if the B10/SEC are seeing the 'employee' trend and working hard to get ahead of it by consolidating NCAA football?