Gene Ross
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Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Oregon in the Rose Bowl
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Ducks in the Rose Bowl.
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 Rose Bowl sim:
The first quarter featured a barrage of points, as it took a bit for both defenses to get settled in. Ohio State opened up the action with a 79-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Emeka Egbuka on its first possession, and the Buckeyes added on a short while later with a five-yard TD run by Quinshon Judkins to take a 14-0 lead less than five minutes in. Oregon responded in a big way, however, with a 100-yard kick return TD by Noah Whittington to get the Ducks on the board.
Ohio State found the end zone yet again on another short scamper by Judkins, which was answered by a long 75-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel to Traeshon Holden. All told, the Buckeyes led 21-14 after the first quarter, and while it looked as though we were in store for an offensive shootout, that would not be the case the rest of the way.
The Oregon defense held Ohio State scoreless over the next two quarters, slowly chipping away at the Buckeyes’ lead with a pair of field goals in the second quarter as Ryan Day’s team would take a 21-20 lead into halftime. Out of the break, the Ducks took their first lead of the game on a two-yard TD run by Jordan James, succeeding on the two-point conversion to make it 28-21, Oregon.
The Ducks added to that lead with a long 51-yard field goal to open up the fourth quarter, but Ohio State would fight back. Egbuka hauled in his second touchdown catch of the afternoon, this one from 20 yards out, as the Buckeyes cut the deficit to 31-28. Oregon knocked through another field goal with a little over two minutes remaining in the game, making it 34-28.
Again, just like back in October, Ohio State would get one final drive to try and win the game.
The Buckeyes reached the Ducks’ 48-yard line with 52 seconds to go after a couple big catches by Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. An 11-yard grab by Smith and a seven-yard scramble by Howard gave Ohio State the ball at the Oregon 30-yard line with just 10 seconds left. Will Howard got two chances to take a shot at the end zone, but both attempts fell incomplete as Ohio State came up short once again.
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s offense played well. Howard completed 16-of-28 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, and Egbuka did most of the work through the air with eight catches for 167 yards and two scores. Smith was second on the team with six receptions for 81 yards. The Buckeyes ran the ball a good amount, led by TreVeyon Henderson’s 12 carries for 62 yards. Howard himself ran it 14 times for 47 yards, and Judkins had seven carries for 31 yards and the two TDs.
As was the case in their first meeting, the Buckeyes’ defense struggled to get pressure on Gabriel, recording only one sack — by Kayden McDonald — and five tackles for loss, three of which came from Jack Sawyer. Denzel Burke did manage to come away with an interception, helping to exercise some of his demons from that prior matchup. It was a big game for Jordan Hancock, who led the team with 11 tackles to go along with two pass breakups and a TFL.
It was a pretty evenly matched game overall, with Oregon out-gaining Ohio State 438 yards to 418 yards. Neither team was particularly great on third down, with the Buckeyes converting 6-of-15 tries (40%) and the Ducks converting 5-of-14 (35%). Special teams mistakes by Ohio State proved costly, as that kick return touchdown was ultimately the difference in the outcome. The Buckeyes also missed a field goal from 39 yards in the second quarter, which had they made it could have allowed for a game-tying field goal attempt in the closing seconds.
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
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Ducks in the Rose Bowl.
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 Rose Bowl sim:
Ohio State 28 - Oregon 34
The first quarter featured a barrage of points, as it took a bit for both defenses to get settled in. Ohio State opened up the action with a 79-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Emeka Egbuka on its first possession, and the Buckeyes added on a short while later with a five-yard TD run by Quinshon Judkins to take a 14-0 lead less than five minutes in. Oregon responded in a big way, however, with a 100-yard kick return TD by Noah Whittington to get the Ducks on the board.
Ohio State found the end zone yet again on another short scamper by Judkins, which was answered by a long 75-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel to Traeshon Holden. All told, the Buckeyes led 21-14 after the first quarter, and while it looked as though we were in store for an offensive shootout, that would not be the case the rest of the way.
The Oregon defense held Ohio State scoreless over the next two quarters, slowly chipping away at the Buckeyes’ lead with a pair of field goals in the second quarter as Ryan Day’s team would take a 21-20 lead into halftime. Out of the break, the Ducks took their first lead of the game on a two-yard TD run by Jordan James, succeeding on the two-point conversion to make it 28-21, Oregon.
The Ducks added to that lead with a long 51-yard field goal to open up the fourth quarter, but Ohio State would fight back. Egbuka hauled in his second touchdown catch of the afternoon, this one from 20 yards out, as the Buckeyes cut the deficit to 31-28. Oregon knocked through another field goal with a little over two minutes remaining in the game, making it 34-28.
Again, just like back in October, Ohio State would get one final drive to try and win the game.
The Buckeyes reached the Ducks’ 48-yard line with 52 seconds to go after a couple big catches by Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. An 11-yard grab by Smith and a seven-yard scramble by Howard gave Ohio State the ball at the Oregon 30-yard line with just 10 seconds left. Will Howard got two chances to take a shot at the end zone, but both attempts fell incomplete as Ohio State came up short once again.
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s offense played well. Howard completed 16-of-28 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, and Egbuka did most of the work through the air with eight catches for 167 yards and two scores. Smith was second on the team with six receptions for 81 yards. The Buckeyes ran the ball a good amount, led by TreVeyon Henderson’s 12 carries for 62 yards. Howard himself ran it 14 times for 47 yards, and Judkins had seven carries for 31 yards and the two TDs.
As was the case in their first meeting, the Buckeyes’ defense struggled to get pressure on Gabriel, recording only one sack — by Kayden McDonald — and five tackles for loss, three of which came from Jack Sawyer. Denzel Burke did manage to come away with an interception, helping to exercise some of his demons from that prior matchup. It was a big game for Jordan Hancock, who led the team with 11 tackles to go along with two pass breakups and a TFL.
It was a pretty evenly matched game overall, with Oregon out-gaining Ohio State 438 yards to 418 yards. Neither team was particularly great on third down, with the Buckeyes converting 6-of-15 tries (40%) and the Ducks converting 5-of-14 (35%). Special teams mistakes by Ohio State proved costly, as that kick return touchdown was ultimately the difference in the outcome. The Buckeyes also missed a field goal from 39 yards in the second quarter, which had they made it could have allowed for a game-tying field goal attempt in the closing seconds.
Continue reading...