What about back-loaded NIL deals? Cornel Wall Street billionaires set up the following program years ago to get elite wrestlers to come to this Ivy League school. They built the wrestling program into a consistent top-10 finisher.
Since Cornel cannot offer athletic scholarships, the athlete signs a X year post-graduation work contract with a firm at a set salary, say $150,000/year.
Can it work in NCAA football? 1. It would encourage players to stick with one school. 2. If they make the NFL, the contract would still be in place if he gets hurt or retires. 3. A coach sitting on Mama's couch explaining to her that her son needs a back up plan might be the ticket.
I don't know the formula, but this free agency NIL thing, I agree, is hurting interest in the sport. And don't even get me going on Bowl games.