(07-16-2021 05:32 AM)cleburneslim Wrote:  How do teams play on an even field if conferences have their own rules.

What is the purpose of having rules that restrict college athletes?

There is no agreement on what the purpose should be.

Some want to be able to point to rules that let them claim future pro athletes are just regular students who are there for the education.

Some want "their" team to find loopholes in the rules to get an advantage over other teams.

Some want to "level the playing field" so that any school with threadbare facilities and coaches who need a second job to make ends meet can compete evenly in men's basketball with schools that have pro-quality facilities and coaches that make more than $5 million/year.

Some want to maintain a power and control balance that is heavily tilted toward coaches and administrators, to make it difficult or impossible for athletes to have options that allow them to choose the situation that is best for them.