Simulating the 2024 BYU Football Season with EA Sports College Football

Casey Lundquist | Jul 18, 2024

Brigham Young Cougars during a game against the Utah State Aggies / Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

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)