Gene Ross
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Life in Simulation: EA CFB 25 predicts Ohio State vs. Oregon
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 Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Ducks in Week 7.
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 7 sim:
Unlike all of our previous simulations, where the game was well in hand at least by the end of the third quarter, this one was a doozy. Ohio State led at halftime but fell behind to start the fourth quarter as the two teams traded the lead back and forth in the final frame. In the end, the Buckeyes would emerge victorious on a late touchdown to remain undefeated on the virtual gridiron.
The first quarter was all Ohio State, as the Buckeyes took the lead right from the jump with a 22-yard field goal on the first possession of the night. Later in the quarter, Will Howard powered into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and Sam Williams-Dixon got on the field to begin the second quarter with his first touchdown of the season to give Ohio State an early 17-0 lead.
It wasn’t until the final two minutes of the half that Oregon finally got on the scoreboard with a 25-yard touchdown from Dillon Gabriel to Traeshon Holden. The Ducks would bookend scores around the break, as a 2-yard touchdown run by Jordan James made things a game again with Ohio State still leading 17-14.
The Buckeyes added a 43-yard field goal to give themselves a tiny bit of breathing room, but Tez Johnson recorded the first real explosive play of the night with an 83-yard punt return touchdown to give Oregon a 21-20 lead to begin the fourth quarter. Not to be outdone, Ohio State responded with its own explosive play, and who else but Jeremiah Smith with a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown to put the Buckeyes back on top, 26-21, after a failed two-point conversion.
Ohio State looked like it may start to run away with it at the end, as a 13-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson gave them a two-score lead, but the Ducks were not nearly done yet. Johnson hauled in a 7-yard TD on the ensuing drive, and just a short while later Holden snagged his second 25-yard score of the night as Oregon regained the lead, 34-33 following a failed two-point attempt of their own.
The Buckeyes got the ball back with just under three minutes remaining in the contest, and with 47 seconds left on the clock, Quinshon Judkins punched it in from two yards out to put Ohio State back on top for good, 39-34, following another failed two-point try. From there, the Silver Bullets were able to hold off the Ducks’ final drive as they escaped from Autzen Stadium with the victory in a primetime game that lived up to the billing.
Despite the close final score, Ohio State out-gained Oregon 581-316. The Buckeyes ran the ball for 245 yards, with Henderson and Judkins combining for 165 yards on 30 carries. Howard passed for 332 yards with one touchdown and one pick while adding another 49 yards and a score on the ground. It was a huge game for Jeremiah Smith, who tallied eight catches for 180 yards and a TD. Emeka Egbuka added five grabs for 85 yards.
Defensively, Ohio State was led by Davison Igbinosun, who recorded a team-high six total tackles as well as an interception. Tyleik Williams recorded the Buckeyes’ lone TFL, while Ty Hamilton and Tyler Bourne (J.T. Tuimoloau) each recorded a sack. The OSU defense was stout against Oregon’s rushing attack, allowing only 73 yards on 21 carries, while also holding the Ducks to 5-of-11 on third down.
Dillon Gabriel finished the night completing 16 of his 27 pass attempts for 226 yards with three TDs and the lone interception. James was contained to 14 carries for 68 yards, while Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart each caught four balls for 35 yards and 69 yards, respectively. On the other side, Jabbar Muhammad had a game-high 12 total tackles, while Elijah Rushing recorded the team’s lone sack and Tysheem Johnson the lone pick.
The virtual Buckeyes move to a perfect 6-0 on the year. Check back in two weeks to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in our Week 8 simulation against Nebraska.
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 Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Ducks in Week 7.
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 7 sim:
Ohio State 39 - Oregon 34
Unlike all of our previous simulations, where the game was well in hand at least by the end of the third quarter, this one was a doozy. Ohio State led at halftime but fell behind to start the fourth quarter as the two teams traded the lead back and forth in the final frame. In the end, the Buckeyes would emerge victorious on a late touchdown to remain undefeated on the virtual gridiron.
The first quarter was all Ohio State, as the Buckeyes took the lead right from the jump with a 22-yard field goal on the first possession of the night. Later in the quarter, Will Howard powered into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and Sam Williams-Dixon got on the field to begin the second quarter with his first touchdown of the season to give Ohio State an early 17-0 lead.
It wasn’t until the final two minutes of the half that Oregon finally got on the scoreboard with a 25-yard touchdown from Dillon Gabriel to Traeshon Holden. The Ducks would bookend scores around the break, as a 2-yard touchdown run by Jordan James made things a game again with Ohio State still leading 17-14.
The Buckeyes added a 43-yard field goal to give themselves a tiny bit of breathing room, but Tez Johnson recorded the first real explosive play of the night with an 83-yard punt return touchdown to give Oregon a 21-20 lead to begin the fourth quarter. Not to be outdone, Ohio State responded with its own explosive play, and who else but Jeremiah Smith with a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown to put the Buckeyes back on top, 26-21, after a failed two-point conversion.
Ohio State looked like it may start to run away with it at the end, as a 13-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson gave them a two-score lead, but the Ducks were not nearly done yet. Johnson hauled in a 7-yard TD on the ensuing drive, and just a short while later Holden snagged his second 25-yard score of the night as Oregon regained the lead, 34-33 following a failed two-point attempt of their own.
The Buckeyes got the ball back with just under three minutes remaining in the contest, and with 47 seconds left on the clock, Quinshon Judkins punched it in from two yards out to put Ohio State back on top for good, 39-34, following another failed two-point try. From there, the Silver Bullets were able to hold off the Ducks’ final drive as they escaped from Autzen Stadium with the victory in a primetime game that lived up to the billing.
Despite the close final score, Ohio State out-gained Oregon 581-316. The Buckeyes ran the ball for 245 yards, with Henderson and Judkins combining for 165 yards on 30 carries. Howard passed for 332 yards with one touchdown and one pick while adding another 49 yards and a score on the ground. It was a huge game for Jeremiah Smith, who tallied eight catches for 180 yards and a TD. Emeka Egbuka added five grabs for 85 yards.
Defensively, Ohio State was led by Davison Igbinosun, who recorded a team-high six total tackles as well as an interception. Tyleik Williams recorded the Buckeyes’ lone TFL, while Ty Hamilton and Tyler Bourne (J.T. Tuimoloau) each recorded a sack. The OSU defense was stout against Oregon’s rushing attack, allowing only 73 yards on 21 carries, while also holding the Ducks to 5-of-11 on third down.
Dillon Gabriel finished the night completing 16 of his 27 pass attempts for 226 yards with three TDs and the lone interception. James was contained to 14 carries for 68 yards, while Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart each caught four balls for 35 yards and 69 yards, respectively. On the other side, Jabbar Muhammad had a game-high 12 total tackles, while Elijah Rushing recorded the team’s lone sack and Tysheem Johnson the lone pick.
The virtual Buckeyes move to a perfect 6-0 on the year. Check back in two weeks to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in our Week 8 simulation against Nebraska.
Continue reading...