Simulating the 2024 BYU Football Season with EA Sports College Football
![Brigham Young Cougars during a game against the Utah State Aggies Brigham Young Cougars during a game against the Utah State Aggies](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3085,h_1735,x_0,y_178/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/cougs_daily/01j3346s8k5vv0v6y0ck.jpg)
Earlier this week, EA College Football 25 was released. Using the game, we simulated the BYU football10 times to observe the best-case scenario for BYU's 2024 season, the worst-case scenario, and the average scenario. The details for every simulation are outlined below, but to start, here's a high-level view of the 10 simulations and how they went.
Best-Case Scenario
The best-case scenario for BYU was simulation #3. In that simulation, BYU finished with a 9-4 record and a bowl win over ranked Florida. The Cougars finished no. 17 in the final AP poll in that season. There were two other simulations in which BYU went 9-4, but simulation #3 was the highest finish in the postseason poll. If you polled BYU fans, however, they would probably prefer simulation #5.
Simulation #3
- Overall Record: 9-4 (Ranked 17th in final AP poll)
- Bowl Destination: Texas Bowl (Florida Gators)
- Big 12 Finish: 5th
- Big 12 Champion: Cincinnati
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (3,830)
- Leading Rusher: LJ Martin (646)
- Leading Receiver: Chase Roberts (995)
- Leading Tackler: Ben Bywater (93)
Average Scenario
BYU's average record over the 10 simulations was 6.4-6.1. BYU went to 5 bowl games in 10 simulations. In terms of matchups, BYU had its best record against Houston (9-1 in 10 simulations) and its worst record against Utah and Kansas State (2-8 in 10 simulations).
Gerry Bohanon led BYU in passing yards in every simulation. LJ Martin led BYU in rushing in 5 out of 10 simulations. Bohanon led BYU in rushing yards in the remaining 5 simulations.
Chase Roberts led BYU in receiving yards in 5 out of 10 simulations. Parker Kingston led BYU in 3 simulations, and Kody Epps was BYU's leading receiver in 2 simulations.
Ben Bywater led BYU in tackles in 8 out of 10 simulations. Ace Kaufusi led BYU in tackles in 2 out of 10 simulations.
BYU's average finish in the Big 12 standings was 9.5 out of 16 teams.
Worst-Case Scenario
In the worst-case scenario, BYU finished with a 3-9 overall record including a 1-9 start to the season. Gerry Bohanon got hurt in this simulation, and backup Treyson Bourquet took over the job.
Simulation #2
- Overall Record: 3-9
- Bowl Destination: N/A
- Big 12 Finish: 15th
- Big 12 Champion: Texas Tech
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (2,323)
- Leading Rusher: LJ Martin (625)
- Leading Receiver: Parker Kingston (812)
- Leading Tackler: Ben Bywater (83)
Other Simulations
Simulation #1
- Overall Record: 5-7
- Bowl Destination: N/A
- Big 12 Finish: 14th
- Big 12 Champion: Oklahoma State
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (3,263)
- Leading Rusher: LJ Martin (457)
- Leading Receiver: Chase Roberts (865)
- Leading Tackler: Ben Bywater (77)
Simulation #4
- Overall Record: 8-5
- Bowl Destination: Texas Bowl (South Carolina)
- Big 12 Finish: 5th
- Big 12 Champion: Kansas State
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (3,441)
- Leading Rusher: Gerry Bohanon (476)
- Leading Receiver: Kody Epps (1,041)
- Leading Tackler: Ben Bywater (85)
Simulation #5
- Overall Record: 9-4
- Bowl Destination: Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Utah State)
- Big 12 Finish: 7th
- Big 12 Champion: Arizona
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (3,513)
- Leading Rusher: LJ Martin (834)
- Leading Receiver: Chase Roberts (863)
- Leading Tackler: Ben Bywater (70)
Simulation #6
- Overall Record: 9-4
- Bowl Destination: Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Wyoming)
- Big 12 Finish: 7th
- Big 12 Champion: West Virginia
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (3,227)
- Leading Rusher: Gerry Bohanon (735)
- Leading Receiver: Chase Roberts (974)
- Leading Tackler: Ben Bywater (95)
Simulation #7
- Overall Record: 6-6
- Bowl Destination: N/A
- Big 12 Finish: 13th
- Big 12 Champion: Cincinnati
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (3,349)
- Leading Rusher: Gerry Bohanon (456)
- Leading Receiver: Parker Kingston (913)
- Leading Tackler: Ben Bywater (78)
Simulation #8
- Overall Record: 5-7
- Bowl Destination: N/A
- Big 12 Finish: 5th
- Big 12 Champion: Utah
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (3,197)
- Leading Rusher: LJ Martin (453)
- Leading Receiver: Kody Epps (937)
- Leading Tackler: Ben Bywater (93)
Simulation #10
- Overall Record: 6-7
- Bowl Destination: Las Vegas Bowl (Illinois)
- Big 12 Finish: 13th
- Big 12 Champion: Kansas State
- Leading Passer: Gerry Bohanon (3,773)
- Leading Rusher: Gerry Bohanon (561)
- Leading Receiver: Parker Kingston (907)
- Leading Tackler: Ace Kaufusi (77)