How to Fix the College Football Playoff? w/ Ben Stevens - Sports Central Showdown

The 2026 College Football season has been amazing and full of upsets! But fans all around the nation are upset after news broke that the College Football Playoff will expand from 12 teams to 24 starting next season. But what is the IDEAL CFP set-up? On-Air Host at 97.1 The Fan LA radio Ben Stevens argues that the old, computerized way the BCS system used to rank teams worked great -- all that's needed is to go from the BCS's original two teams to the 12 team set-up we have currently. The Sporting Tribune writer Alex Hutton argues that eight teams qualifying for the playoff, with no automatic bids, is the most fair route. Graham Metzker hosts, and agrees that the 24 team expansion is unnecessary, on this edition of the Sports Central Showdown.

• Oct 22

Is N.I.L. Bad for College Sports? - Sports Central Showdown

It's been more than five years now since groundbreaking legislation was passes allowing college student athletes to make money from their name, image, and likeness -- more commonly known as N.I.L. College sports has changed a lot since then, but is it better off with or without N.I.L.? ESPN+ broadcaster Graham Metzker argues that N.I.L. is good for college athletics because it allows student athletes to profit after decades of the universities taking advantage of their talents with nothing in return, as well as its promotion of women's sports and its stars. The Sporting Tribune writer Alex Hutton argues N.I.L. has ruined the tradition of student athletes staying at one school for their entire time in school, instead creating a wild landscape with countless transfers and smaller schools getting the short end of the stick. Darren Haynes hosts, and adds his unique perspective as a former college football player, in this edition of the Sports Central Showdown.

• Aug 17

Michigan holds off UConn to win 2026 NCAA men's basketball title

This is Michigan's second NCAA title in school history, and the win ends a 26-year national championship drought for the Big Ten.

• Apr 6

UConn shocks Duke to join Illinois, Arizona and Michigan in Final Four

After being down by as many as 19 on Sunday, Braylon Mullins retrieved a loose ball near midcourt in the waning seconds against Duke and hit a three-pointer from 35 feet away to take the lead.

• Mar 30

UCLA overcomes halftime deficit behind Betts to beat Duke 70-58 and reach women's Final Four

Lauren Betts had 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks to help UCLA rally from a rare halftime deficit and beat Duke 70-58, advancing to the women's Final Four for the second straight season.

• Mar 29

UCLA takes down Minnesota in March Madness, advances to Elite Eight

Kiki Rice scored 21 points and Lauren Betts added 16 to help No. 1 seed UCLA beat fourth-seeded Minnesota 80-56 in the Sweet 16 of the women's NCAA Tournament.

• Mar 27

Betts erupts for career-high 35 as UCLA women roll past Oklahoma State into the Sweet 16

Top-seeded UCLA powered past Oklahoma State and reached the Sweet 16 again with an 87-68 win.

• Mar 23

Edwards, Okot power top-seed South Carolina into Sweet 16 with 101-61 victory over USC

Joyce Edwards had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Madina Okot added her 22nd double-double this season with 15 points and 15 rebounds, and top-seeded South Carolina advanced to its 12th straight Sweet 16 with a 101-61 victory over ninth-seeded Southern California in the women's NCAA Tournament.

• Mar 23

Karaban scores 27 points and sends UConn back to the Sweet 16 with 73-57 win over UCLA

Alex Karaban scored a career-high 27 points and had Bill Murray and the rest of the UConn crowd roaring with each splashed 3 as he helped send the second-seeded Huskies back to the Sweet 16 with a 73-57 win over UCLA in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night.

• Mar 22

UCLA clamps down after halftime, steamrolls Cal Baptist 96-43 in March Madness

UCLA stormed past Cal Baptist in the women's NCAA Tournament, turning a close game into a 96-43 blowout.

• Mar 21

Jazzy Davidson scores 31 as USC outlasts Clemson 71-67 in OT in women's NCAA Tournament

Freshman Jazzy Davidson scored 31 points in her women's NCAA Tournament debut, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:03 left in overtime to lift ninth-seeded Southern California to a 71-67 victory over No. 8 seed Clemson.

• Mar 21

Cal Baptist falls to Kansas in the opening round of March Madness

Darryn Peterson made four 3-pointers and scored 28 points, and fourth-seeded Kansas squandered most of a 26-point lead before holding off scrappy NCAA Tournament newcomer Cal Baptist 68-60 on Friday night.

• Mar 21

March Madness bracket set as Duke nabs top overall seed

Duke is the top overall seed in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, with Arizona, Michigan, and Florida also landing on the No. 1 line.

• Mar 15

No. 2 UCLA rolls past No. 9 Iowa 96-45 for 2nd straight women's Big Ten Tournament title

Gianna Kneepkens scored 19 points and Kiki Rice added 15 points and eight assists as No. 2 UCLA rolled past No. 9 Iowa 96-45 to win its second straight Big Ten Tournament crown.

• Mar 8

Rice leads No. 2 UCLA past No. 11 Ohio State 72-62 in Big Ten tourney semis

Kiki Rice scored 17 points to lead five UCLA players in double figures and the Bruins won their school-record 24th consecutive game, 72-62 over No. 11 Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

• Mar 7

Ladine, Howell lead Washington women to 76-64 win over USC in Big Ten Tournament's second round

Elle Ladine scored a season-high 25 points, Avery Howell added 18 points and nine rebounds and Washington defeated USC 76-64 in the second round of Big Ten Tournament on Thursday.

• Mar 5

No. 2 UCLA women complete undefeated Big Ten regular season with 73-50 win over USC

No. 2 UCLA has completed the first undefeated regular season in Big Ten women's basketball in 11 years.

• Mar 1

Feds charge 26 in college basketball point-shaving scheme

Authorities said the alleged scheme involved 39 players, 17 different NCAA Division I men's basketball teams and 29 games.

• Jan 16

Freshman star Jazzy Davidson scores season-best 24 points, leads No. 19 USC women past Cal 61-57

Freshman Jazzy Davidson scored a go-ahead layup with 4:05 to play and finished with a season-best 24 points, leading No. 19 USC past California 61-57 in the 2025 Invisalign Bay Area Women's Classic.

• Dec 21, 2025

No. 4 UCLA women rout winless Long Beach State 106-44 in largest victory of the season

Gabriela Jaquez and Lauren Betts each scored 17 points, leading No. 4 UCLA to a 106-44 victory over winless Long Beach State.

• Dec 20, 2025

Azzi Fudd leads No. 1 UConn to win over 16th-ranked USC

Azzi Fudd scored 17 points and No. 1 UConn routed 16th-ranked USC 79-51 on Saturday, snapping the Trojans' 20-game home winning streak with their best player on the bench watching.

• Dec 13, 2025

No. 3 UCLA women dominate Southern 88-37 as season-opening win streak reaches 6 games

Angela Dugalic scored 20 points to lead No. 3 UCLA in a dominant 88-37 win over Southern.

• Nov 23, 2025

UCLA's total team dominance leads to 94-61 victory over South Florida

Gabriela Jaquez scored 17 points to lead UCLA in a dominant 94-61 win over South Florida on Saturday night.

• Nov 15, 2025

No. 2 South Carolina beats No. 8 USC 69-52 in "The Real SC" matchup

Joyce Edwards had 17 points and 10 rebounds as No. 2 South Carolina defeated eighth-ranked Southern California 69-52.

• Nov 15, 2025

Betts' 20 points, 10 rebounds power No. 3 UCLA past No. 11 North Carolina

All-American Lauren Betts scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead No. 3 UCLA to a 78-60 victory over No. 11 North Carolina on Friday in the WBCA Challenge.

• Nov 13, 2025

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