Charlie Baker thinks the future of sports gambling 'feels catastrophic'

Hey everyone,

There was plenty of intrigue in college sports this week, with the CFP fallout and the bizarre news out of Ann Arbor. But, oh wait, there’s more! Today, we have a rundown on the latest with the College Sports Commission, sports betting and officially licensed snacks!

As we near the end of the year, I’m planning to do a mailbag, answering readers’ questions about NIL, revenue sharing and anything else involving the business of college sports. Send me a tweet or email me at [email protected]. Remember, there’s no such thing as a dumb question!

— Kyle

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NIL doesn’t need to be complicated. Athletes shouldn’t have to spend hours begging other brands for a couple bucks and a sample size of their product. 

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NIL shouldn’t be complicated. FanSpark is simple. So every athlete can build and monetize a global fan base. 

Sign up at FanSpark.pro or get in touch to learn more.

THE BIG 3

A Band-Aid for the CSC’s participation agreement?

The top brass of college sports gathered in Las Vegas this week to discuss a multitude of industry topics.

One was the College Sports Commission and its participation agreement, which has drawn the ire of numerous athletic directors and state attorneys general. According to Ross Dellenger, more than 30 ADs and the commission’s CEO, Bryan Seeley, met to hear one another out. 

The agreement is designed to link the power conferences to the House settlement terms and require schools to waive their right to sue the CSC over enforcement. But it’s only enforceable if all 68 power conference schools sign the document. 

Well, the original deadline came and went last week. Attorneys general in Tennessee and Texas have been vocal, urging schools in their states NOT to sign the agreement. One thing is certain: There will be a revised set of terms. But many people in college sports believe that any document the CSC presents is dead on arrival. 

Does it matter? Most of what the CSC agreement included is already part of the House settlement. What the CSC is after is immunity from potential legal challenges involving enforcement.

“The [House] settlement exists, and that’s obviously the foundation of the CSC‚ ” Seeley said at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. “But the participant agreement is really necessary to add meat to the bones of that and for schools to understand what they’re signing up for and to agree to be part of a well-functioning system.” 

Baker opines on sports gambling

NCAA president Charlie Baker sat down with Kendall Baker of Yahoo Sports and shared a number of interesting comments about gambling. We’ve all heard horror stories about prop bets and seen several scandals in recent seasons. Baker called the pressure from bettors “relentless.” 

“It’s like, ‘Hey, I’m not asking you to do something awful or terrible,” Baker told Yahoo. “I’m not asking you to throw the game,’ right? But what you are asking them to do is not play the game the way they would choose to play it if their goal was to be a good teammate and win.” 

Baker offered his own bet of sorts, predicting that DraftKings and FanDuel pulled out of the American Gaming Association because they’re getting into the prediction market, which Polymarket and Kalshi dominate. 

“They can’t afford to let those folks dominate all that green space they can’t currently access,” Baker said. “It just says this whole thing is going to get worse unless somebody does something about it. And solving it at the federal level is going to be really challenging because it’s still new and not fully formed. So, I mean, you're basically talking about no rules, no oversight, no nothing. And that just feels catastrophic to me. Not just for us, but for everybody.”

I’m fine with legalized sports betting. However, significant drawbacks have emerged in recent years. Limiting prop betting feels like the right thing to do. It won't eliminate scandals, and it won’t root out all unwanted social media messages. But it will limit the potential damage and pressure on athletes. 

Did you say snacks?! 😋 

As athletic departments search for new sources of revenue, beer and liquor — a previously untapped market (pardon the pun) — have become all the rage. 

Allow me to introduce the newest edible item: snacks! 

On Thursday, Victory Snacks announced its latest partnership, with Florida International, which joins Houston, Conference USA and the SWAC. Victory Snacks and FIU created 305 Snacks, which will include jerky, potato chips and gummies. Beverages are in the works. Sales will generate NIL dollars for athletes. 

Victory Snacks is a private-label snack food and beverage company that works with athletes and universities on NIL through its offshoot, Victory Campus. 

“In this new, revenue-share era of college athletics, it is paramount for us to maximize profitable opportunities to help recruit and retain student-athletes,” FIU athletic director Scott Carr wrote in a release. “I encourage all Panthers to purchase and enjoy any of the 305 Snacks portfolio and, in the process, help us build championship rosters.”

Amen! Who doesn’t want to sit back on the couch, prop their feet up and eat some beef jerky or potato chips in favor of the local team? I say this with a hint of sarcasm, but I really am serious. I love that athletic departments are getting into the food-and-beverage space. 

Bring it on. 

NIL BLITZ

♦️ The College Sports Commission has approved $87.5 million in NIL value across more than 12,000 submissions through NIL Go in its first five months. 

♦️ In response to Utah’s private equity deal, U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) said Congress will examine universities’ tax-exempt status. 

♦️Here’s some interesting information about Otro Capital, the firm involved in the Utah PE deal.

♦️ Texas Tech board of regents chair and billionaire booster Cody Campbell said college sports “has a money problem” during a discussion at the SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum.

♦️ 2026 UTSA football season tickets are on sale, with every dollar of revenue from new season tickets going to revenue sharing. And AD Lisa Campos believes the Roadrunners can reach the $4 million to $5 million revenue-sharing range that coach Jeff Traylor identified as necessary.

♦️ Good stuff from Iowa AD Beth Goetz, SMU AD Damon Evans, Tennessee AD Danny White and Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt on navigating record budgets and increased expenses.

♦️ Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports reports that the Big 12 will use the same replay transparency as the ACC next season.

♦️ An incarcerated Texas man claiming to be the father of deceased Utah football player Ty-Coreous Jordan is seeking his House settlement money. 

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Which do you favor?

• College Athletics Reform Act - 55%

• No government intervention in college sports - 45%