The virtual Buckeyes take on the virtual Cornhuskers in Week 9.
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 9 sim:
Ohio State 31 – Nebraska 15
This was one of the stranger simulations we’ve had so far this season. While Ohio State never really seemed in danger of losing, the offense struggled a bit, failing to put up more than 10 points in any quarter while scoring exactly one touchdown in each of the final three quarters. The defense, however, remained strong throughout, keeping Nebraska out of the end zone until the final five minutes of action with the game already well in hand.
The Buckeyes mustered only a field goal on their opening possession, with Jayden Fielding knocking through the 38-yarder. After both teams traded punts, Ohio State found pay dirt for the first time on a 2-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins. It wasn’t until the second quarter that either team would add any points, with the Cornhuskers hitting two field goals in a row to cut the deficit to 10-6.
Just before the half, the Buckeyes put together a long 78-yard drive resulting in 16-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard to Jeremiah Smith, taking a 17-6 lead into the break.
Ohio State would add on yet again early in the third quarter, as Judkins scored his second touchdown of the game, this time from only a yard out. Both teams would remain scoreless through the rest of the frame, with the home team taking a 24-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
Nebraska kicked its third field goal of the game for some reason to make it 24-9 on its first possession of the final period. On their ensuing drive, the Buckeyes found the end zone yet again on a 28-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Emeka Egbuka.
With Ohio State now leading 31-9 with under seven minutes remaining, Ryan Day decided to empty his bench. Now playing against the backup defenders, the Cornhuskers scored their only touchdown of the contest with four minutes to go, missing the 2-point try to make it 31-15 — which would end up the final score.
Howard put together a quiet but efficient afternoon passing the football, completing 15-of-20 attempts for 171 yards and two touchdowns and adding another 41 yards on the ground. Carnell Tate led the way among the receivers, hauling in five catches for 58 yards, while Egbuka finished with three receptions for 58 yards and Smith with three grabs for 31 yards. Both Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson ran the ball 13 times apiece — Judkins for 88 yards and two scores and Henderson for 72 yards.
Defensively, it was the Tyler Bourne (J.T. Tuimoloau) show, as the defensive end tallied six total tackles, four tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Lathan Ransom (who could potentially miss the Nebraska game with an injury) and Sonny Styles tied for the team lead with 11 total tackles, while Tyleik Williams recorded Ohio State’s only sack. Cody Simon was credited with three pass breakups, and Caleb Downs forced a fumble, but the Huskers recovered.
For Nebraska, Dylan Raiola put together a decent performance despite much in the way of points to show for it, completing 20-of-35 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. The run game was stifled by the Buckeyes’ defense, with lead back Gabe Ervin Jr. (the team’s sixth-leading rusher in real life?) managing only 65 yards on 24 attempts — a 2.7 yards-per-carry average. Tight end Thomas Fidone II led the way through the air, recording a team-high six catches for 71 yards.
Nebraska actually gained more first downs than Ohio State, 18 to 17, but the Buckeyes outgained the Huskers 373-330. As a team Ohio State ran the ball for 191 yards on 39 attempts, compared to 89 yards on 43 attempts for Nebraska. Neither team performed all that well on third down, with the Buckeyes converting 7-of-13 and the Cornhuskers converting 8-of-21, but Nebraska did go 3-for-4 on fourth down. There was not a single turnover in the contest, and only three combined penalties.
While the real life Buckeyes are 5-1 with a chance to move to 6-1, the virtual Buckeyes move to a perfect 7-0 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 10 simulation against Penn State.