Very interesting discussion. Complex but extremely insightful into how the Ivies and HA colleges operate.
From a different source -
"The Supreme Court has barred the NCAA from imposing limits on financial education benefits for athletes...it took the NCAA only about two weeks after that decision to reverse a long-standing policy against college athletes receiving money outside of their athletic scholarships".
"...the Ivy League schools have been able since 1994 ... to agree to decline to offer merit awards of any type—for academic excellence, musical talent, debate skills, athletic performance, or any other ability—and give scholarships based solely on the student’s financial situation. In other words, to do precisely what the Supreme Court has just told the NCAA it now cannot do for athletes."
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The legal carveout that allowed the Ivies and other HA colleges to offer only need-based aid expired on 9/30/2022 after 28 years. It is unlikely to be renewed.
Which means the Ivies are now open to legal liability related to collusion over NOT offering athletic scholarships.
In other words, @Goosegg the Ivies and other HA colleges no longer have the legal cover to say FA can't be combined with athletic or merit scholarships.