What's the catch with the U of Alabama scholarship?

[TV4caster]

@CaliCash

The catch is that it’s less about wanting to give to high achieving students and more about trying to climb the rankings and appear as more prestigious when the quality of the education is the same whether they are ranked at #88 or #28.

You have no idea what the reasons are. You are also wrong about the quality of the education staying the same. Brighter and more engaged students will lead to a better education even if the professors stay the same. There is also the likelihood that the professors will actually improve as better profs start applying to a school with more prestige.