Eric Barron’s career has been built on innovation. From his time as Dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (and as founding director of the Earth System Science Center), to his presidencies at both Florida State University and Penn State University, he has focused broadly on how to do things better.

At both Penn State and Florida State, he has dealt with high profile Division I athletics programs. He is deeply aware of the challenges and opportunities inherent in today’s athletics landscape, and believes the expanded college football playoff to 12 teams offers the best chance to provide both more athletes the opportunity to compete and for the new revenues to be dedicated to athlete health and wellness, among many other pressing issues.

 Now a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, Barron’s work once again puts him in a place where innovation and creativity are key. He joins me for a fascinating and honest conversation about big-time college sports today. We start with a discussion of his insightful op-ed for the Sports Business Journal.