College football has once again returned to the virtual world in EA Sports College Football 26, 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 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 34 – Illinois 16
In an identical fashion to Minnesota’s opening drive last weekend, Illinois managed to drive down the field against Ohio State on its opening possession, but could only muster a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
Ohio State was quick to respond, with Julian Sayin running it in from 18 yards out to put the Buckeyes on top, 7-3. After a punt by the Illini on their ensuing drive, Sayin hit Carnell Tate on an 84-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-3, and it felt like the game was going to get out of hand in a hurry.
Instead, Illinois battled back, and on its first drive of the second quarter, Luke Altmeyer found Justin Bowick on a 12-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 14-10. The two teams traded field goals before the end of the half, and Ohio State went into the break with a slim 17-13 lead.
Defense was the name of the game in the third quarter, and again it was a field goal from both sides to keep it at just a three-point game heading into the final frame, with the Buckeyes up 20-16.
Ohio State owned the fourth quarter, opening things up with another Tate touchdown — this time a short 7-yard score — to make it 27-16. Illinois could no respond, going three-and-out on its next possession, and the Buckeyes tacked on again with a 10-yard touchdown by Brandon Inniss to put the final nail in the coffin in a 34-16 win on the road.
Ohio State out-gained Illinois 374-277, and managed to hold the Illini to just 55 yards rushing on 30 carries (1.8 yards per attempt). Neither side turned the ball over, but the Buckeyes were far more efficient on third down (7-of-12) than Illinois (5-of-15), which was a huge factor in determining the outcome.
Key Contributors
Ohio State (Offense)
- Julian Sayin: 20-of-30 passing, 293 yards, 3 TD (7 carries for 21 yards, TD)
- Bo Jackson: 16 carries for 60 yards
- Carnell Tate: 8 catches for 137 yards, 2 TD
- Jeremiah Smith: 5 catches for 82 yards
- Brandon Inniss: 3 catches for 21 yards, 1 TD
Ohio State (Defense)
- Sonny Styles: 10 tackles, 2 PBU
- Arvell Reese: 9 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
- Beau Atkinson: 7 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sacks
- Eddrick Houston: 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
- Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBU
Illinois (Offense)
- Luke Altmeyer: 22-of-36 passing, 222 yards, 1 TD (10 carries for 36 yards)
- Ca’Lil Valentine: 16 carries for 21 yards
- Justin Bowick: 6 catches for 57 yards, 1 TD
- Hank Beatty: 4 catches for 41 yards
- Tanner Arkin: 4 catches for 49 yards
Illinois (Defense)
- Dylan Rosiek: 11 tackles
- Matthew Bailey: 10 tackles, 1 PBU
- Gabe Jacas: 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
- Xavier Scott: 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU
Check back to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in our Week 7 simulation against Illinois.
