The Powers That Be: Daily Inside the NCAA’s Moneyball Era
Jan 24, 2026
Charlie Baker, former Massachusetts governor and NCAA president, offers a concise mini bio and perspective on college sports governance. He unpacks transfer portal chaos and proposed transfer/eligibility fixes. He talks media rights, March Madness expansion, NIL issues, and why Congress might need to step in. Brief, topical, and focused on the biggest policy flashpoints.
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College Sports Are Broader Than Headlines
- Charlie Baker says overall college sports are healthy with record participation and rising women's sports interest.
- He emphasizes most of the 1,100 schools and 556,000 athletes operate outside the high-profile TV narratives.
Transfer Portal Expands Opportunity And Risks
- Baker frames transfers as increased opportunity that wasn't realistic a decade ago for late-blooming players.
- He worries about annual transferring's effect on academic progress and team culture despite some positive outcomes.
Limit Routine Transfers To Protect Stability
- Allow one transfer without question, and allow additional transfers only for exigent circumstances like a coach leaving.
- Monitor academic progress closely because most student-athletes won't play professionally and need degrees.