I want Stanford to do that. It would be a drop in the bucket financially to the google boys, or any other very large number of super wealthy Stanford grads. And the beauty of it is they could target only kids who legit qualify for Stanford, which would be good enough for top ten classes annually or better, and treat it like a fun plaything of the nouveau rich, a validation of the free market that so many libertarian tech bros are so big on. And they would be doing it the right way, following all the academic rules, all the kids are good students, and I suppose of the meritocracy as well that can touch all facets of society. Like it's some salutary thing almost to reward elite HS recruits who are also excellent students with particularly large NIL deals because they represent the limited supply Stanford must cull from to have a powerhouse program, and so they're willing to pay a premium to get them.I go out of my way to attend the ND games in Palo Alto. I try to watch marquee games, more so when Stanford is doing well. Again, my perception is attendance is better when the Cardinal are doing well.
As discussed, they are pretty bad right now and in a bleak situation as perhaps the best overall school in the world.
This might be their final adventure...I wouldn't be surprised if they capitulate and wind down football. Maybe Ivy? Maybe lower division?
NIL, transfers, even more big $$$? Demands for a really easy degree? There might be limits to what Stanford can commit to here.
No exaggeration, Stanford is a force multiplier for the USA: GDP, defense, health, overall ROI. Not sure if they want to or can do the new football normal.
The market works!