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 Big Ten Championship sim:
Ohio State 34 – Indiana 20
Ohio State started off the game hot, scoring on its first possession of the night on a 9-yard run by Bo Jackson. Indiana answered on its opening possession, with Roman Humby punching it into the end zone from a yard out, and after each team touched the ball once it was quickly 7-7.
The Buckeyes would get the last laugh in the first quarter, as Julian Sayin found Max Klare for a 10-yard touchdown as Ryan Day’s group closed out the opening period with a 14-7 lead.
Ohio State added on in the second quarter, with Bo Jackson scoring again — this time on an 8-yard touchdown run — to put the Buckeyes up by two scores. Jayden Fielding drilled a 45-yard field goal before halftime, and all the sudden the scarlet and gray had a three-possession lead at 24-7 heading into the break.
Indiana scored the first points of the third quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Nico Radicic, but Ohio State answered with a 36-yarder by Fielding on its next possession.
The Hoosiers finally got into the end zone again a short while later on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza to Makai Jackson, and after an OSU three-and-out and a 50-yard Indiana field goal, all the sudden it was a 27-20 game heading into the fourth quarter.
Much like they did against Michigan, Ohio State was able to deliver the kill shot with a long touchdown pass. Midway through the fourth quarter, Sayin hit Jeremiah Smith on a 38-yard touchdown to put the Buckeyes up 34-20 and virtually seal the deal.
Indiana was unable to muster any points on its next drive, and following a turnover on downs Ohio State managed to run out the rest of the clock in a decision Big Ten Championship victory.
The yardage between the two teams was incredibly close, with the Buckeyes holding a slight 422-419 advantage. The big differences in the game were third down efficiency, where Ohio State was 10-of-18 and Indiana was only 6-of-17, and the turnover margin, with Mendoza tossing a pair of interceptions.
Key Contributors
Ohio State (Offense)
- Julian Sayin: 32-of-45 passing for 362 yards, 2 TD
- Bo Jackson: 13 carries for 72 yards, 2 TD
- Jeremiah Smith: 8 catches for 151 yards, 1 TD
- Carnell Tate: 6 catches for 92 yards
- Max Klare: 4 catches for 52 yards
Ohio State (Defense)
- Sonny Styles: 10 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
- Caleb Downs: 8 tackles, 1 INT
- Jermaine Mathews Jr: 5 tackles, 1 INT
- Kenyatta Jackson Jr: 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks
- Eddrick Houston: 4 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
Indiana (Offense)
- Fernando Mendoza: 30-of-52 passing for 374 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
- Roman Hemby: 15 carries for 58 yards, 1 TD
- Omar Cooper Jr.: 9 catches for 111 yards
- Elijah Sarratt: 6 catches for 102 yards
- EJ Williams Jr.: 4 catches for 65 yards
Indiana (Defense)
- Aidan Fisher: 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
- Mikail Kamara: 4 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
- Amare Ferrell: 6 tackles, 1 TFL
- Dominique Ratcliff: 3 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 FF
- Jamari Sharpe: 6 tackles, 2 PBU
Check back to see how Ohio State actually performed on the field compared to the simulation, and see how they fare in their matchup in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.
