How much do college players really get paid? Schools don’t want you to know — but you should

College sports programs are keeping player compensation a secret. Only one school, James Madison, has provided a payroll with redacted names. Most schools claim releasing the information would violate student privacy laws or disclose trade secrets. The lack of transparency is causing problems, including potential extortion by agents. Some schools are using university funds or increasing student fees to cover the costs. Lawmakers are discussing ways to address the issue, including using state funds for player compensation.