The Varsity Charlie Baker’s NCAA Vision
Oct 25, 2026
Michael Nathanson, a sports and media rights analyst, joins Charlie Baker, NCAA president and former Massachusetts governor. They explore streaming’s impact on sports economics, Netflix’s ambitions, and the soaring value of live events. Baker addresses college athletics’ uncertain future, revenue sharing, NIL, governance reform, the Protect College Sports Act, conference autonomy, tournament expansion, and the rise of women’s basketball.
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College Sports Are Uncertain Not Chaotic
- College sports face uncertainty rather than total chaos because court rulings create inconsistent eligibility outcomes across jurisdictions.
- Baker argues revenue sharing, health protections, guaranteed scholarships, and strong graduation rates show meaningful progress beneath the headlines.
Revenue Sharing Changed College Competition
- Revenue sharing changed the competitive dynamic by making high-revenue college sports more attractive to athletes than Baker expected.
- He was also surprised by the breadth of championships, sports, and fan communities across all three NCAA divisions.
The Division II Plan That Nearly Worked
- A Division II basketball team nearly upset a 100-point-per-game opponent by using a deliberate defensive strategy and slowing every possession.
- Baker sees the game as a laboratory for strategy, responsibility, adaptation, and personal growth.