Simulating the 2024 BYU Football Season on EA Sports College Football 25

The 2024 BYU football season is just over a month away. The Cougars and Southern Illinois are set to square off on August 31.

In the meantime, college football fans have a way to pass the time. For the first time in 11 years, a new college football video game has been released. EA Sports College Football 25 went live on Monday to those who ordered the deluxe version, with the standard version becoming available this Friday at midnight. Rabid college football fans have been praying, wishing, and hoping for this day to come and it’s finally here.

Initial game reviews are very positive. It’s also very realistic. I took the time to go through the entire 2024 season in a simulator mode. I did not alter the settings or play a single snap of any game. I had the computer decide who won each game. In the end, I was able to see what EA Sports College Football 25 might think of the 2024 BYU Cougars.

Let’s break it down game-by-game.

vs. Southern Illinois: W, N/A (1-0) (FCS teams are not individually featured in this game…yet).

Let’s call this a win and move on.

at SMU, L (49-28) (1-1)

BYU got shell-shocked in Dallas. SMU’s passing game was prolific and efficient, completing 23 of 26 passes. BYU QB Gerry Bohanon had three touchdown passes but a pick six early in the fourth quarter put BYU behind the 8-ball for good. Perhaps the first non-FCS game of the year was a bit of a culture shock for this BYU squad.

at Wyoming, W (37-17) (2-1)

Some are rightfully nervous about BYU traveling to Laramie. Some weird things can happen there. Just ask fellow Big 12 foe Texas Tech, who opened their 2023 season in Laramie and went home with a loss. Not here. Gerry Bohanon connected with Kody Epps for a 73-yard touchdown following a BYU interception. That jolted the team awake and they rode the momentum to a comfortable road win.

vs. Kansas State, W (27-20) (3-1)

The Wildcats came to Provo ranked in the Top 25 in this simulation. The juices were flowing for BYU in this 1996 reunion game. The Cougars rode the home crowd momentum and jumped out to a 27-6 lead. That would be a shocking development against one of the best teams in the Big 12. The Wildcats did make a surge in the fourth quarter with two quick scores, making it 27-20 late. It got uncomfortable late in the game but BYU’s defense forced a game-sealing turnover on downs. A big win at home.

at Baylor, L (34-17) (3-2)

Perhaps this was something of a letdown after a big, emotional home win against KSU. Baylor came in seeking revenge for the 2022 game in Provo and got it. They flustered former Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon, who had two interceptions and a fumble lost to the Bears. A punch in the gut after such a big win the week before.

vs. Arizona, L (22-20) (3-3)

This might have been the most painful game of the entire season. Arizona came to Provo as a top 15 team. The Cougars led 14-13 at halftime. The offense just stalled out in the second half, despite 100 rushing yards from LJ Martin. They stalled out twice late in the fourth quarter, unable to get into field goal range. A big missed opportunity.

vs. Oklahoma State, W (31-29) (4-3)

This would be a very BYU thing to do. Get killed by a bad Baylor team, then nearly upset a top 15 at home in Arizona, and then beat a top 20 team that was in the Big 12 title game last year the next week. This game was epic. Oklahoma State took a 29-28 lead with two minutes left. Bohanon led a hurried drive into field goal range. Will Ferrin was nails, converting a walk-off, game-winning field goal as time expired to send the rabid fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium into a frenzy. The video game didn’t depict this, but that could be field-storming territory.

at UCF, L (38-31) (4-4)

Perhaps the long road trip after an emotional home win was too much. BYU led this game 17-10 late in the first half before UCF got a last-second touchdown to tie the game going into the locker room. That seemed to take the wind out of the sails of BYU, who faltered in the second half. UCF opened the second half with a touchdown and never trailed again.

at Utah, L (33-14) (4-5)

Some nervous BYU fans see this coming. A grumpy, veteran Utah team has been stewing about that loss in Provo for three years now. Cam Rising and company have revenge on their minds and they get it in a big way here. Utah led 24-14 and BYU barely threatened all game. The Utes ran the ball at will in the second half and just let the air out of the ball.

vs Kansas, W (36-35) (5-5)

There’s something magical happening at LaVell Edwards Stadium this season. The Cougars completed the Kansas sweep by beating the Jayhawks in another barnburner. BYU took the lead with a touchdown with three minutes left after four lead changes in the game. Tyler Batty then sealed the victory with a strip sack of Kansas, with BYU recovering and getting into victory formation.

at Arizona State, W (24-17) (6-5)

BYU took advantage of a very mistake-prone Sun Devils team. ASU committed three turnovers and the BYU defense notched four sacks. A pick six by Jakob Robinson right before halftime seemed to put ASU at arm’s length for the rest of the game. ASU got a score late to make it appear closer than the game actually was.

vs. Houston, L (30-27), (6-6)

Did BYU get caught napping after solidifying their bowl eligibility the week before? A scrappy Houston team with a new head coach gets their signature win in something of a lost season for the Cougars in red. Either way, BYU is heading to a bowl but are left on Senior Night with a bitter taste.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. Nebraska, L (31-21) (6-7)

Yes, BYU gets to play Big 10 foe Nebraska in the bowl game. Perks of having Big 12 bowl affiliations. However, it looked like BYU was just happy to be there. Maybe the warm Arizona desert air put them at ease and made it feel more like a vacation than a business trip. The Cornhuskers, playing in their first bowl in eight years. They played like they wanted it more, jumping out to a 21-0 lead at halftime. BYU rallied late but it was too little, too late.

Even with the bowl loss, BYU got to six wins and a bowl game. That should be considered a successful season this year, especially with four conference wins, doubling last year’s total.