The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Wolverines in Week 14.
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 14 sim:
Ohio State 43 – Michigan 21
This week’s simulation was a departure from how Ohio State has generally performed this season, with the Buckeyes jumping out to an early lead and giving up some points late in the game as opposed to falling behind with a slow start and then dominating the second half. Ohio State had little resistance in knocking off its rival and ending the three-game skid against TTUN, but did have some offensive struggles that led to an absurd five field goals.
The Buckeyes started off the game with a huge play, as Will Howard took it himself on a 74-yard touchdown run to give the home team and immediate 7-0 lead. Later in the frame, TreVeyon Henderson punched it in from a yard out to make it a two-score lead, and a long 51-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding made it 17-0 Ohio State at the end of the first quarter.
The Wolverines got on the board to begin the second quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Kalel Mullings, but the Buckeyes answered a short while later on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Emeka Egbuka to make it 24-7. Neither team would muster any points the rest of the half, and that score would remain going into the break with Ohio State holding a three-score lead.
The third quarter would also belong to the Buckeyes, as Jeremiah Smith hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead even further about five minutes into the period. Nearing the end of the quarter, Fielding added another field goal — this one from 27 yards out — and Ohio State now owned a 34-7 lead through three quarters.
Fielding opened up the fourth quarter with yet another field goal from 33 yards, and Michigan responded with a short touchdown run for Mullings, his second of the game. The Buckeyes really struggled to pay off drives in the end zone, kicking another two field goals from 34 and 49 yards out to make it 43-14. The Wolverines would pick up a garbage time score on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Alex Orji (?) to Kendrick Bell, and that would be the final at 43-21.
It wasn’t the best day from Howard, who finished the game completing 10-of-21 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had the long touchdown run and finished with 136 yards rushing total with no turnovers. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins combined for 102 yards on 24 carries, and Jeremiah Smith really dominated the receiving game with five catches for 109 yards and a score. Egbuka added two catches for 33 yards and a TD, while Tate finished with 3 catches for 30 yards.
Ohio State’s defense had an absolute field day, forcing five turnovers on four interceptions and a forced fumble. Lathan Ransom had two picks, while Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinson had one each. Jack Sawyer forced the one fumble, and also led the team with eight total tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Kenyatta Jackson had two sacks, Tyler Bourne (J.T. Tuimoloau) had 1.5, and Kayden McDonald and Cody Simon each totaled half a sack. Tyleik Williams added three tackles for loss.
Despite all the turnovers it was a close game in yardage, with Ohio State only out-gaining Michigan 421-379. The Silver Bullets really stifled the Wolverines’ run game, allowing just 69 yards on 33 attempts (2.1 yards per carry). The Buckeyes did not do well on third down, as evidenced by all the field goals, finishing the game converting on only 5-of-14 attempts. It was a relatively clean contest for both teams in terms of penalties, with Ohio State flagged once for five yards and TTUN three times for 23 yards.
While the real life Buckeyes are 10-1 with a chance to move to 11-1, the virtual Buckeyes move to a perfect 12-0 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 Big Ten Championship simulation against Oregon should they defeat the Wolverines to advance to Indianapolis.