Notice: With EA Sports activities’ Faculty Soccer 25 bringing school soccer again to the online game world, the Deseret Information is simulating each BYU recreation in opposition to an FBS opponent this season.

BYU heads into the second half of the season using excessive.

The Cougars are 6-0, ranked No. 13 within the nation and are tied with two different groups at 3-0 atop the Huge 12 Convention.

Meaning a matchup in opposition to 3-3 Oklahoma State on Friday night time ought to be straightforward, proper?

Perhaps not. The Cowboys, although they’ve misplaced three straight video games, began the 12 months within the high 15 and had been a favourite to win the Huge 12, however they’ve hit robust instances.

How will Friday’s recreation between the 2 play out?

The Deseret Information ran a simulation of Friday’s recreation on the EA Sports activities Faculty Soccer 25 online game — and the matchup went forwards and backwards with a end that can maintain followers within the stands.

How the simulation was arrange

There have been a few floor guidelines in place: The simulation used 12-minute quarters — I bumped that up from utilizing 10 minutes through the first half of the 12 months, to raised replicate an correct variety of possessions per recreation — and I let the pc simulate the sport with no person interference.

CPU scores have additionally been adjusted a bit from the usual to make go protection extra lifelike — I adjusted the passing accuracy from 50 to 35, then adjusted go protection scores from 50 to 80. That helped to create extra lifelike numbers.

Accidents and depth chart motion had been additionally carried out.

The Cougars performed with a full steady of operating backs in final week’s win over Arizona, and they’re all accessible once more this week.

Vast receiver Kody Epps was saved out for a second-straight week, and with heart Connor Pay nonetheless sidelined with a damaged foot, Bruce Mitchell changed him at heart once more for BYU. Additionally, with Sonny Makasini out at guard and Austin Leausa not within the online game, Jake Eichorn was slotted in at proper guard.

Oklahoma State is reportedly going with redshirt sophomore Garret Rangel at quarterback — it’s his first begin of the season.

The Cowboys even have a pair of star linebackers lacking, with Collin Oliver and Nick Martin injured.

The uniforms each groups shall be carrying had been additionally carried out into the simulation.

BYU goes with a royal blue jersey with white helmet, white facemark and white pants, all adorned with royal trim. Oklahoma State didn’t announce any uniform choices, so I used their conventional street white uniforms with the orange script helmet.

Although it’s been forecasted to be wet Friday night time a lot of the week, the forecast the day of the sport not requires rain through the contest, so I made it overcast at kickoff.

How correct was the simulation of BYU’s final recreation?

The precise rating: BYU 41, Arizona 19

Faculty Soccer 25 simulation closing rating: BYU 20, Arizona 15

My evaluation: The simulation was a bit extra conservative offensively than what the ultimate rating ended up being, although no less than by means of halftime within the precise recreation, it appeared it might be correct.

The Cougars led the Wildcats 14-7 on the break in final Saturday’s recreation earlier than extending their lead early within the second half thanks to 2 turnovers from Arizona.

Within the simulation, BYU needed to maintain robust on a late rally earlier than forcing a turnover to win.

How did the simulation between BYU and Oklahoma State play out?

Ultimate rating: BYU 41, Oklahoma State 33

Key sequence: In a recreation the place there was loads of offensive fireworks, it was a defensive play that gained it for BYU.

The Cougars noticed a 35-24 lead trimmed to 2 factors with 7:14 to play on a Brennan Presley 20-yard landing reception, and Oklahoma State opted to go for 2 to try to tie the rating.

Rangel, although, was stopped for a loss on a quarterback draw, and BYU marched on an extended drive following that earlier than placing the sport away within the closing minutes.

How the simulation transpired: After a pair early punts and turnovers, this recreation was principally about offense.

The Cougars obtained on the board first, as linebacker Sione Moa intercepted Rangel on the sport’s third play and scored on a 32-yard pick-six lower than a minute into the sport.

After two Oklahoma State punts and one from BYU, the Cougars had a promising drive going earlier than Chase Roberts misplaced a fumble after a catch and Oklahoma State recovered at its personal 35.

Cowboys operating again Ollie Gordon II took over on the subsequent drive, turning 4 straight touches into 40-plus yards gained, and his 4-yard run on third and two pushed Oklahoma State to the BYU 14 with one minute left within the first quarter.

On the subsequent play, Rangel discovered De’Zhaun Stribling for a 14-yard landing go to tie the sport.

The Cougars had been outscored 14-7 within the second quarter — Oklahoma State used two lengthy drives to attain touchdowns, whereas BYU cashed in as soon as however had a Will Ferrin 51-yard discipline aim try that missed vast proper because the half expired.

BYU scored on a 7-yard LJ Martin run with 7:56 till halftime, capping a 75-yard drive the place BYU twice transformed third down.

The Cowboys struck again, although, transferring the ball downfield and scoring on a 14-yard Rashod Owens catch to finish an 11-play, 82-yard drive and make it 14-14.

On the following possession, Jake Retzlaff was sacked on third right down to power a punt, and Oklahoma State shortly capitalized, transferring the ball downfield shortly earlier than scoring on a 4-yard Stribling catch with 46 seconds till halftime.

The Cougars regained management within the third quarter, although, utilizing two fast drives to regain the lead.

BYU took the opening possession of the second half and scored in three performs, as Parker Kingston caught a 39-yard go from Retzlaff. The drive coated 84 yards in 57 seconds.

After an Oklahoma State three and out, BYU once more struck shortly. This time, a five-play drive ended with Keanu Hill catching an 8-yard landing go. The possession included catches of 28 and 26 yards for Hill and Kingston, respectively, and BYU was up 28-21.

The Cowboys responded with a drive of their very own that resulted in a 39-yard discipline aim, however BYU once more had a solution.

This time, Hill caught a go and ran the ultimate 45 yards untouched on a 68-yard landing go to make the rating 35-24 for BYU heading into the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma State made the tip attention-grabbing, hitting a discipline aim with simply over 10 minutes to play to make it 35-27.

Then, after a BYU three and out, the Cowboys sliced by means of the Cougar protection and scored on a 24-yard Presley landing with 7:14 to play.

BYU, although, stopped the two-point conversion to keep up a 35-33 lead.

The Cougars then ate up greater than 5 minutes off the clock on the following possession and scored on a 29-yard discipline aim — a holding penalty contained in the crimson zone pressured the three-point try — with 1:49 to play.

BYU then stopped Oklahoma State deep in its finish of the sector on the following possession, with Isaiah Bagnah sacking Rangel to power an extended fourth down try, the place Rangel threw incomplete.

The Cougars obtained the ball again with 45 seconds left and Oklahoma State solely had two timeouts, however an unlucky circumstance led to BYU needing to provide the ball again.

On first down, a Cougar damage saved Oklahoma State from needing to name timeout, after which the Cowboys stopped two BYU runs and used its closing two timeouts to place the Cougars in a fourth down state of affairs with 30 seconds to play.

Ferrin added a 27-yard discipline aim to make it an 8-point recreation, after which the BYU protection held once more.

Just a few performs into the drive, Rangel discovered Stribling to maneuver the ball to BYU’s 49, however he couldn’t get out of bounds and the clock ran out earlier than Oklahoma State may get a snap off.

Star gamers: Retzlaff had maybe his greatest day as a Cougar, with 331 yards passing and three touchdowns, all within the third quarter.

Martin ran for 101 yards and the landing, whereas Hill made seven catches for 115 yards.

Jakob Robinson led the protection, ending with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception.

Rangel threw for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first begin this 12 months, however his two interceptions proved pricey.

Gordon ran for 125 yards, with a 3.7 per-carry common, whereas Presley added 9 catches for 126 yards.

Key stats: The Cougars held the sting in whole yards, with 456 to 418 for the Cowboys.

Each groups discovered related success on third down — BYU completed 7 of 13, whereas Oklahoma State was 7 of 16.

How lifelike was the simulation?

My evaluation: It felt like there was an excessive amount of offense on this one, with each quarterbacks capable of finding open receivers with out a lot bother in essential conditions through the second and third quarters.

It wouldn’t be shocking, although, for this to be an in depth recreation all through.

The Cougars might have the sting, however the Cowboys are a harmful crew.