March Madness is easily one of the most popular and profitable sporting events to ever exist. CBS News expects there to be over nine billion dollars wagered on the tournament, over 1.3 billion spent on advertisements and at least 1.67 million paid to every school participating in the tournament. With all this money on the line, many people must wonder how much of it the players are getting; the answer is none. None of the money made by the NCAA or by participating schools during March Madness is paid to their athletes.

College athletes give up a lot of their time playing in nationally televised games, which make their schools millions of dollars. Much of their time is spent playing sports instead of studying or sitting in class. Athletes deserve compensation for their time.

Athletes also make their schools money through advertising. After a big win or a good season in sports a school may experience the Flutie effect. As a result of an impressive sports season a college’s admissions rise. The effect was named after Doug Flutie who won the Heisman trophy in 1983 and 84 while playing for Boston College. After those seasons applications to the school increased by 30%. According to Boston College, for the 2018-19 school year tuition was $54,600. The impressive performance of Flutie and his teammates undoubtedly made the school more money, money that the school’s athletes deserve.

The risks of playing sports in college are also very high. Athletes could receive a career ending injury that prevents them from making millions playing professionally. Those athletes deserve compensation for the risks they are taking to increase their schools profits.

College athletes already receive scholarships, but additional pay could compensate athletes for all the time they spend competing for their school.