Gene Ross
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Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Akron
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Zips to begin the 2024 college football season.
College football finally returned to the virtual world in 2024 with the release of EA Sports College Football 25, allowing fans of all 134 FBS schools to take control of their favorite team. For Buckeye Nation, that means getting to dominate with one of the best rosters in the game,
The new game also allows us to get a glimpse at what the season could look like, at least if the computers had their say. Each week, Land-Grant Holy Land will simulate Ohio State’s real-life matchup to see what our AI overlords think will happen.
Here are the results of our Week 1 sim:
Ohio State had no issues taking care of Akron in Week 1, defeating the Zips 44-3. The Buckeyes put up 554 yards of total offense, while keeping Akron out of the end zone for all four quarters.
Quinshon Judkins scored the first touchdown of the season for Ohio State on a 3-yard touchdown run, but kicker Jayden Fielding missed the extra point to make it 6-0 Buckeyes. Ohio State added to its lead later in the quarter on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard to Emeka Egbuka to make it 13-0, and Akron would score its only points of the game on a 38-yard field goal to wrap up the opening frame.
Ohio State added two more scores in the second quarter on a 2-yard TD run by Judkins and a 25-yard touchdown reception by Jeremiah Smith — the freshman’s lone catch of the game. The Buckeyes’ offense would go quiet for a bit after that, with a 25-yard field goal by Fielding the only points from either side until the start of the fourth quarter.
The virtual Buckeyes kept the starters in for all four quarters, which will be a theme all season as the AI doesn’t known well enough to bench the starters, and as a result Judkins picked up two more touchdown runs — a 1-yard scamper and a 24-yard score.
Overall, Ohio State featured its ground game, rushing for 287 yards on 49 carries, good for around 5.9 yards per carry. TreVeyon Henderson finished with 20 carries for 115 yards in addition to two catches for 25 yards, while Judkins earned Player of the Game with 15 carries for 118 yards and four touchdowns.
Will Howard had an extremely effecient day through the air, albeit a pretty quiet one. The Kansas State transfer completed 16 of his 17 pass attempts for 259 yards and two touchdowns in his first start for the Buckeyes. Emeka Egbuka led passing game in the yardage department with four catches for 103 yards and a TD, while Gee Scott led the team in receptions with five grabs for 67 yards.
Defensively, Ohio State held Akron to 227 yards of total offense and just 1-of-12 on third down. Cody Simon led the way with six total tackles, followed by Jack Sawyer and Davison Igbinosun with five apiece. Sawyer had a big game with three sacks, while “Tyler Bourne” (J.T. Tuimoloau’s fill-in, as Tuimoloau is not in the game) had 1.5 sacks. Sonny Styles, Tyleik Williams and Lorenzo Styles Jr. each registered half a sack.
Somewhat surprisingly, neither team turned the ball over. Ohio State converted on third down on 10 out of 14 tries and allowed just one sack. Both teams were called for five penalties. Buckeyes kicker Jayden Fielding went 5-of-6 on PATs and made his lone field goal attempt.
The virtual Buckeyes move to 1-0 on the year. Check back next week to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in our Week 2 simulation against Western Michigan.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Zips to begin the 2024 college football season.
College football finally returned to the virtual world in 2024 with the release of EA Sports College Football 25, allowing fans of all 134 FBS schools to take control of their favorite team. For Buckeye Nation, that means getting to dominate with one of the best rosters in the game,
The new game also allows us to get a glimpse at what the season could look like, at least if the computers had their say. Each week, Land-Grant Holy Land will simulate Ohio State’s real-life matchup to see what our AI overlords think will happen.
Here are the results of our Week 1 sim:
Ohio State 44 - Akron 3
Ohio State had no issues taking care of Akron in Week 1, defeating the Zips 44-3. The Buckeyes put up 554 yards of total offense, while keeping Akron out of the end zone for all four quarters.
Quinshon Judkins scored the first touchdown of the season for Ohio State on a 3-yard touchdown run, but kicker Jayden Fielding missed the extra point to make it 6-0 Buckeyes. Ohio State added to its lead later in the quarter on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard to Emeka Egbuka to make it 13-0, and Akron would score its only points of the game on a 38-yard field goal to wrap up the opening frame.
Ohio State added two more scores in the second quarter on a 2-yard TD run by Judkins and a 25-yard touchdown reception by Jeremiah Smith — the freshman’s lone catch of the game. The Buckeyes’ offense would go quiet for a bit after that, with a 25-yard field goal by Fielding the only points from either side until the start of the fourth quarter.
The virtual Buckeyes kept the starters in for all four quarters, which will be a theme all season as the AI doesn’t known well enough to bench the starters, and as a result Judkins picked up two more touchdown runs — a 1-yard scamper and a 24-yard score.
Overall, Ohio State featured its ground game, rushing for 287 yards on 49 carries, good for around 5.9 yards per carry. TreVeyon Henderson finished with 20 carries for 115 yards in addition to two catches for 25 yards, while Judkins earned Player of the Game with 15 carries for 118 yards and four touchdowns.
Will Howard had an extremely effecient day through the air, albeit a pretty quiet one. The Kansas State transfer completed 16 of his 17 pass attempts for 259 yards and two touchdowns in his first start for the Buckeyes. Emeka Egbuka led passing game in the yardage department with four catches for 103 yards and a TD, while Gee Scott led the team in receptions with five grabs for 67 yards.
Defensively, Ohio State held Akron to 227 yards of total offense and just 1-of-12 on third down. Cody Simon led the way with six total tackles, followed by Jack Sawyer and Davison Igbinosun with five apiece. Sawyer had a big game with three sacks, while “Tyler Bourne” (J.T. Tuimoloau’s fill-in, as Tuimoloau is not in the game) had 1.5 sacks. Sonny Styles, Tyleik Williams and Lorenzo Styles Jr. each registered half a sack.
Somewhat surprisingly, neither team turned the ball over. Ohio State converted on third down on 10 out of 14 tries and allowed just one sack. Both teams were called for five penalties. Buckeyes kicker Jayden Fielding went 5-of-6 on PATs and made his lone field goal attempt.
The virtual Buckeyes move to 1-0 on the year. Check back next week to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in our Week 2 simulation against Western Michigan.
Continue reading...