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Eight wins and a Heisman candidate? Simulating Purdue football’s season with EA Sports

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Eight wins and a Heisman candidate? Simulating Purdue football’s season with EA Sports

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WEST LAFAYETTE − It’s been a decade since the Journal & Courier had the capability to simulate a Purdue football season on the EA Sports video game.

Now that all the name, image and likeness issues have been resolved and College Football 25 is in stores, it was time to resume a tradition.

The skinny: We simply simulated each game of the 2024 season and took notes of how the scenarios played out.

EA Sports was kind to the Boilermakers, presumably, if you’re looking at this from a fan’s perspective.

In real life, most would take an 8-5 season that ends with a bowl victory (with a couple of surprising victories along the way). Here’s how the digital Purdue Boilermakers got there. Keep in mind not every member of Purdue’s roster appears in the game.

More: BoilersXTRA: Bold predictions for Purdue football

Purdue 31, Indiana State 3

Indiana State (actually a fictional team called FCS Midwest in the game) became the opponent that would be a tone setter for Purdue’s and quarterback Hudson Card’s seasons. Card was 23 of 27 for 265 yards and 3 TDs. Receiver Andrew Sowinski kicks off what would become a monster surprising season with 7 catches for 67 yards and a TD. Jahmal Edrine caught 6 passes for 80 yards and a TD. Dillon Thieneman’s 8 tackles leads a solid defensive effort.

Notre Dame 38, Purdue 28

Another solid performance from Card, who was 21 of 29 for 242 yards and 4 touchdowns, but was sacked four times. CJ Smith had a breakout performance with 6 catches for 82 yards and a TD and his former Georgia mate De’Nylon Morrissette caught a 44-yard TD, while Sowinski snagged a pair of touchdowns. Kydran Jenkins racked up 12 tackles. Notre Dame had a blocked field goal that proved crucial.

Purdue 35, Oregon State 30

Yanni Karlaftis had a key interception and the secondary of Thieneman, Nyland Green, Markevious Brown, Boy Beasley and Antonio Stevens combined for 31 tackles. Sowinski caught two more TDs, equaling Morrissette. Jahmal Edrine’s 80-yard touchdown reception was a difference maker.

Nebraska 45, Purdue 17

Perhaps a letdown coming back to Ross-Ade Stadium after a road win. Purdue couldn’t shake off a missed field goal or allowing four sacks despite a solid defensive day from Shitta Sillah. Sowinski does find the end zone for a fourth straight game.

Purdue 24, Wisconsin 6

In reality, the Boilermakers haven’t beaten Wisconsin since 2003. But in this simulation, Card throws for 340 yards and a touchdown (to Sowinski, of course, who looks like an All-American early in the season) while rushing for another. Edrine catches 6 passes for 93 yards, while Jenkins, Beasley, Karlaftis, Sillah and Joe Strickland all get in the backfield for a sack.

Purdue 50, Illinois 21

The win comes with a scare. Ryan Browne has to replace Card at quarterback, but is up to the task, going 14 of 21 for 245 yards and 4 TDs in relief. Devin Mockobee rushes for 88 yards, to. Smith and Morrissette each catch a TD pass from Browne, while Sowinski goes off for 131 yards and 2 TDs. Thieneman and Salim Turner-Muhammad pick off passes and Jeffrey M’ba gets a takedown in the backfield for the Boilermaker defense.

Oregon 28, Purdue 14

This is a sign of things to come for the Ducks (more on that later), who become the first defense to slow down Sowinski. CJ Smith and Reggie Love III score Purdue’s touchdowns, while Brown has a solid day defensively and Will Heldt records his first sack.

Purdue 34, Northwestern 21

Sowinski gets back in the end zone, catching 7 passes for 64 yards in the process, and Smith adds 7 catches for 118 yards and a score. Jenkins leads the defense with 8 tackles and a sack, while Thieneman snags his second interception of the season.

Purdue 31, Ohio State 27

The Boilermakers become bowl eligible in a stunner despite three interceptions from Card, who’d in Drew Brees-against-the-Buckeyes fashion atoned for his mistakes with 316 yards and 3 TD passes to go with 50 rushing yards and a TD. Smith had 7 catches for 111 yards and Max Klare scored touchdowns on both of his receptions. Spencer Porath is quietly having a solid freshman year and boots a 50-yard field goal.

Penn State 47, Purdue 45 (2 OT)

A heartbreaker at home after a massive win the week before. On the upside, Card is Big Ten and National Player of the Week after throwing for 326 yards and 4 TDs to go with 65 rushing yards and 2 TDs. Morrissette scored twice and had 100 receiving yards, while Devin Mockobee becomes Purdue’s first 100-yard rusher of the season with 128 yards on 16 carries.

Michigan State 31, Purdue 17

The Friday night lights and road environment in East Lansing got to the Boilermakers. Card is sacked three times, but did connect with Smith 6 times for 102 yards and a TD. Sillah and M’ba each record two sacks.

Purdue 27, Indiana 19

The Boilermakers extend their win streak over the rival Hoosiers, keeping the Old Oaken Bucket thanks to Porath’s 50-yard field goal during a nine-point day. Edrine, Sowinski and Smith all caught TD passes from Card and Strickland was a disruptor on defense.

Purdue 42, New Mexico 40

The Boilermakers accept an invite to the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk and offensive lineman DJ Wingfield gets to do battle with his former school. Jenkins pilots the defense to do just enough, while Card tosses 4 TDs, including two to Smith.

Season highlights

The Big Ten boasted five teams in the College Football Playoff (Oregon, USC, Nebraska, Michigan and Ohio State). Oregon wins the national title, defeating UCF in the title game.

For Purdue, Hudson Card finishes ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting and is a first-team All-Big Ten selection. Gus Hartwig is second-team All-Big Ten, while Porath is a freshman All-American at kicker.

Purdue stat leaders

Card’s Heisman candidate numbers: 250-for-358, 3,452 yards, 33 TDs, 5 INT, 97 carries, 407 yards, 7 rushing TDs.

Mockobee leads Purdue’s run game with 771 yards, but scores only two TDs, while Love scored 3 TDs.

It’s a big year for Purdue receivers. Smith catches 60 passes for 884 yards and 9 TDs, Edrine had 7 TDs on 40 catches for 875 yards and Sowinski averaged a TD per game, finishing with 65 catches for 749 yards and 13 TDs. Morrissette adds 22 catches for 479 yards and 6 TDs, while Klare snagged 40 passes for 471 yards at tight end.

Jenkins’ 82 tackles led the defense and he adds 2.5 sacks. Thieneman has just two interceptions, but compiles 69 tackles. Nyland Green’s three interceptions lead the team.

Porath finishes 12 of 16 on field goals, with a long of 50 yards on two occasions. He also is perfect on 49 extra points. Punter Keelan Crimmins is solid, averaging 43.9 yards per punt and pinning 15 inside the 20-yard line.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

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