In college sports, for smaller or mid-major programs, winning sometimes means taking a back seat or even fighting for survival. See, these programs often rely on what’s called buy games or “guarantee/paycheck games”. Oftentimes, a big-name school pays a smaller one to come play them. The powerhouse gets a home game, and the smaller school gets a much-needed cheque to help fund its program. But here’s where it gets tricky.

These deals can shift at the last minute if another school comes in with a bigger offer. And that’s exactly what happened this season with the UCLA Bruins. Utah women’s coach Gavin Peterson made a bit of noise online after Monday’s win over Sioux Falls, a Division II program that wasn’t even supposed to be on the schedule.

The Utes were originally set to face San Diego State. Until the Aztecs pulled out after getting a better offer from the UCLA Bruins, who decided to buy out the game contract. In the video posted by On3’s Talia Goodman, Petersen is seen voicing his frustration, saying, “First and foremost, I want to thank Sioux Falls for taking this game on really short notice.” The fuming coach wasn’t letting it slide just with praise.

“I got a call on September 3rd from San Diego State, who were contracted to play, and that game was bought out by UCLA. They paid a ridiculous amount of money to buy out our contract. So again, thank you to Sioux Falls for stepping in on such late notice and playing the game,” he further added.

A pretty sly move from Cori Close and her team, which left the Utes scrambling to find a new opponent until Sioux Falls came to the rescue. Sure, Utah still handled business with an 88-62 win, but it does raise some eyebrows. These “buy games” have been popping up more and more lately, and you can’t help but wonder: Is it starting to make things a little unfair?

But money is often a lifeline for smaller programs. As John Fagg, the athletic director at the University of Texas at Arlington, put it in an interview a few years ago, “Guarantee games are, for most schools like UTA, a necessary piece of funding the overall program.” He even mentioned that he gave his coaching staff a target to raise a certain amount each season through these games. That’s how crucial they are for keeping smaller schools afloat. So, can we really blame the Aztecs for choosing a higher offer?

According to a report by The Shorthorn published on February 21, 2024, the men’s basketball team at UTA played at least 17 such games over the past six seasons, earning more than $1.2 million from those matchups. And while the payouts are usually smaller on the women’s side, it’s easy to see why these programs continue to take on those games. Sometimes, it’s not just about competition but survival.

That said, Cori Close’s gamble to buy out Utah’s game and bring in San Diego State paid off. The Bruins cruised to a comfortable 77-53 win. A solid 24-point statement to open the season. It also marked their seventh straight victory over the Aztecs, extending their all-time series lead to 26-6. And the best part? They did it all without their prized recruit, Sienna Betts, who didn’t even suit up for the opener.

UCLA Bruins win season opener without Sienna Betts

Lauren Betts’ sister, Sienna Betts, came into UCLA with a lot of hype, and honestly, who could blame the fans? Ranked No. 2 in the nation by ESPN, the freshman was expected to make an immediate impact. Plus, being the younger sister of Lauren Betts, who’s already a big name for the UCLA Bruins, only added to the excitement. Everyone was waiting to see the Betts sisters share the court together.

But the younger Betts was ruled out for the season opener. “Sienna is going to be a no-go for our opener,” coach Cori Close said via SBNation. “She’s coming along great, she’s doing a great job, but we’re going to rule her out for Monday. We’re excited to get her back and get her in the mix.”

But the Bruins didn’t really need Sienna or even their top three-point shooter from last season, Timea Gardiner. Lauren Betts made sure of that. The National Player of the Year contender looked every bit the part, starting the season strong with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting and setting the tone for the new season.

Can UCLA build on their historic Final Four run from last season? They’re ranked third in the country, right behind the two teams that faced off in last season’s championship game. Do you think this is the year the Bruins go all the way? Let us know in the comments below!