[AnotherUnixGeek]

This should be taxable income?

Of course it should be taxable - and the college athletes in money-making sports absolutely deserve to be paid. Men's team sports - particularly college football and baseball - have made a fortune for universities for decades.

[gibsonguy]

They should also have to pay for the athletic scholarships they received

[Codeflier]

I think you meant football and basketball. The college baseball game has no major tv revenue or huge attendance numbers. Because MLB baseball is more direct, with a professional farm team system, top players usually skip the college game altogether.