Observe: With EA Sports activities’ Faculty Soccer 25 bringing faculty soccer again to the online game world, the Deseret Information is simulating each BYU sport towards an FBS opponent this season.

BYU is headed into Dallas as a double-digit underdog for its Week 2 matchup towards SMU.

It is an necessary matchup for the Cougars early within the season — they’re attempting to get again to the postseason after a yr off in 2023, and the Mustangs will present an early season problem.

How large is the problem?

To assist us reply that query, we turned to EA Sports activities’ Faculty Soccer 25 for some solutions.

The Deseret Information ran a simulation of Friday’s sport — and it was an in depth matchup all through.

How the simulation was arrange

There have been a couple of floor guidelines in place: After some testing and tweaking, I adjusted the simulation to 12-minute quarters — with the choice to regulate that if needed in future simulations — then let the pc simulate with no consumer intervention.

Accidents and depth chart adjustments had been additionally thought-about.

For the BYU-SMU sport, that meant placing Jake Retzlaff at QB1 for BYU — the online game has Gerry Bohanon because the higher-rated quarterback, so I swapped them on the depth chart.

Along with altering a couple of backup positions attributable to damage, the most important change for the Mustangs was sticking primarily with Preston Stone at quarterback.

In the true world, the Mustangs alternate between Stone and Kevin Jennings, however seeing as how there was no consumer intervention and I couldn’t alter the depth chart throughout a simulation, it labored to only permit Stone to play all the sport.

How did the simulation between BYU and SMU play out?

Closing rating: SMU 38, BYU 33

Keyplay: Early within the fourth quarter after BYU had climbed again inside 5 factors at 31-26 after happening double digits within the third, the Cougars received a cease on their aspect of the sector following a Retzlaff interception. Isaiah Bagnah helped power a punt with a first-down sack.

On the Cougars’ ensuing possession, although, turnover points struck once more.

Retzlaff was attempting to throw out within the flat to Kody Epps, however SMU’s Cale Sanders Jr. Jumped the route and got here up with the second straight Retzlaff interception. Sanders returned it 46 yards for a choose six, giving the Mustangs a 38–26 lead with 7:25 to play.

How the sport unfolded: BYU led simply as soon as, although the Cougars stayed inside one rating of the Mustangs by way of a lot of the sport.

Each groups had three scoring drives within the first half, with BYU trailing 17–13 on the break.

The Cougars briefly led 13–10 after a 21-yard Will Ferrin discipline aim with 1:14 left till halftime.

SMU struck rapidly, although, as Jordan Hudson (who had a monster sport) caught a 73-yard landing move two performs into the following drive to push the Mustangs again forward.

The Cougars nonetheless had an opportunity to take the lead simply earlier than the half, as Retzlaff moved BYU into the pink zone rapidly. After three straight passes — two incomplete and one other wanting the tip zone — Ferrin missed a 21-yard discipline aim that will have made it a 1-point sport.

Within the second half, BYU punted on the opening possession of the third and was taking part in catch-up after that.

Stone moved the Mustangs down the sector methodically on their first drive of the second half and scored on a 10-yard QB keeper to make it 24–13 SMU.

The subsequent three possessions additionally led to touchdowns — two for BYU, and one for SMU. Each Cougar scores got here on passes to tight finish Keanu Hill, from 4 and 26 yards, although BYU failed on a 2-point conversion try after the primary landing that will have made it a 3-point sport.

Hudson, in the meantime, caught a protracted bomb at the back of the tip zone for a 51-yard rating in between these BYU touchdowns.

That made it 31-26 heading into the fourth quarter.

BYU pressured a punt and had an opportunity to retake the lead early within the fourth, however Retzlaff’s first interception ended that chance.

That led to the Cougars’ defensive cease, adopted by the pricey Mustang choose six that gave them sufficient cushion to win the sport.

BYU responded with a 75-yard drive that included a 33-yard catch from Parker Kingston on fourth-and-11 to get the Cougars contained in the Mustangs’ 5-yard line.

After Retzlaff was sacked on first-and-goal, he hit Keelan Marion for a 15-yard landing to make it 38–33 with 2:23 to play.

SMU ran out the clock from there, utilizing a 40-yard move to Hudson and a powerful working assault to maintain BYU from possessing the ball once more.

Star gamers: For SMU, Stone accomplished 19 of twenty-two passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns, whereas Hudson had six receptions for 217 yards and three scores.

BYU was paced by Retzlaff, who threw for 494 yards and three touchdowns, although each fourth-quarter interceptions had been pricey.

LJ Martin, who had a 6-yard landing run, added 139 speeding yards, whereas Chase Roberts had 12 catches for 186 yards and Hill added six grabs for 100 yards and the 2 touchdowns.

Closing stats: There wasn’t loads of protection on this simulation — the Cougars completed with 605 yards and SMU had 494.

BYU struggled with ending drives within the first half, although, which led to having simply 13 factors on the half regardless of reaching the SMU pink zone on every first-half possession.

The Mustangs, in the meantime, by no means turned the ball over and had been 6 of 10 on third down. BYU, for its half, was 7 of 13 on third down.