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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/jimbobbypaul on 2024-08-03 17:58:43+00:00.

Best of the Best: Simulating a Season with the Greatest Modern Era Teams

In an effort to figure out how each program’s best modern team stacks up against each other, I’ll be simming the 2024 season schedule. But, instead of using next year’s rosters, I’m using each program’s best team since 1996. By the end of this, we’ll have determined the best team, QB, RB, WR, offensive line, you name it–of the modern era. And we’ll have a full 134-team ranking of where every program’s best team stacks up with each other. I sim one time for every matchup, so some shocking one-off results may occur. That’s part of the fun, anybody’s got a shot to win it all. If you view these posts using the old Reddit layout, you’ll be able to see team and conference flairs.

If you missed the previous weeks/results, the Main hub thread link is here.

Stats

National Leaders and Team Stats:

Top 25

We’ve done it. We’ve made it–to RIVALRY WEEK. No matter what kind of season your team’s had, whether it’s a 2000 Virginia Tech or a 2020 Alabama, your legacy in this sim can be defined by how you do against your rival. Does 2010 Auburn be the one to finally take down 2020 Alabama? Does 2023 Michigan eliminate 2019 Ohio State from the Playoff? Aside from rivalries, a lot of teams’ Playoff fate will be determined this week. Teams like Louisville, Ohio State, Missouri seem to be facing “win and in” scenarios, while a few like Cal, Florida State, and Marshall are on the outside looking in. Shockingly, BYU’s fallen from #7 to #18 after a loss to 3-7 Arizona State, and Arizona from #13 to #23 after losing to 5-5 TCU. Boise State and Marshall are making noise not just for the Group of 5 automatic slot, but potentially both could make it in with the second being an at-large bid.

Rank Team Record Change
1 2020 Alabama 11-0 0
2 2019 LSU 9-2 0
3 2008 Florida 9-2 3
4 2018 Clemson 9-2 -1
5 2004 USC 9-2 0
6 2023 Washington 10-1 -2
7 2006 Louisville 9-2 2
8 2019 Ohio State 9-2 0
9 2007 Missouri 9-2 2
10 2009 Cincinnati 9-2 2
11 2009 Boise State 10-1 3
12 2004 California 8-3 5
13 1999 Marshall 10-1 9
14 2011 Oklahoma State 8-3 -4
15 2013 Florida State 8-3 0
16 1998 Tennessee 8-3 2
17 2013 Michigan State 8-3 2
18 1996 BYU 8-3 -11
19 2001 Miami (FL) 8-3 NEW
20 2015 Western Kentucky 9-2 5
21 2020 San Jose State 9-2 NEW
22 2021 Pittsburgh 7-4 -6
23 1998 Arizona 8-3 -10
24 2020 Louisiana 8-3 NEW
25 2012 Texas A&M 7-4 NEW

Also Receiving Votes: 2003 Miami (OH) 8-3, 2007 West Virginia 7-4, 2018 Notre Dame 7-4, 2018 Fresno State 8-3, 2009 Central Michigan 9-2, 2020 Buffalo 9-2, 2017 UCF 7-4, 2000 Oklahoma 7-4, 2001 Illinois 7-4, 2010 Stanford 7-4

Dropped From Top 25: #20 2017 UCF, #21 2010 Stanford, #23 2010 Auburn, #24 2000 Oklahoma

Conference Standings

SEC :

We’re staring down the barrel of a #1 Alabama vs #2 LSU rematch in the SEC title game. Alabama’s clinched already, while LSU is in with a win. If LSU loses and Missouri loses, LSU’s still in because they beat Florida. If Missouri wins, it’ll come down to LSU/Florida/Missouri’s record against common opponents. No matter what, all 4 teams at the top of the SEC are in “win and in” scenarios for the Playoff. Tennessee has an outside shot, but will need help.

  1. #1 2020 Alabama 11-0 (7-0)
  2. #2 2019 LSU 9-2 (6-1)
  3. #3 2008 Florida 9-2 (6-2)
  4. #9 2007 Missouri 9-2 (5-2)
  5. #16 1998 Tennessee 8-3 (4-3)
  6. 2010 Auburn 7-4 (4-3)
  7. 2005 Texas 6-5 (4-3)
  8. 2011 Arkansas 6-5 (4-3)
  9. 2022 Georgia 6-5 (4-4)
  10. 2000 Oklahoma 7-4 (3-4)
  11. #25 2012 Texas A&M 7-4 (3-4)
  12. 2023 Ole Miss 5-6 (3-4)
  13. 2018 Kentucky 5-6 (2-6)
  14. 2012 Vanderbilt 5-6 (2-6)
  15. 2014 Mississippi State 3-8 (1-6)
  16. 2013 South Carolina 4-7 (1-7)
Big Ten :

Washington’s got a real tough game on the road against Marcus Mariota and 2014 Oregon. If they win, they’re in the Big Ten Championship. If not, it’ll come down to a tiebreaker between them and potentially one or both of Ohio State/Michigan State. Will 2023 Michigan spoil the party against 2019 Ohio State? The game’s in Columbus, and it’s weird to think a team who didn’t win the national title will be favored over a team that did.

  1. #5 2004 USC 9-2 (8-1)
  2. #6 2023 Washington 10-1 (7-1)
  3. #8 2019 Ohio State 9-2 (6-2)
  4. #17 2013 Michigan State 8-3 (6-2)
  5. 2017 Wisconsin 7-4 (5-3)
  6. 2001 Illinois 7-4 (5-3)
  7. 2014 Oregon 6-5 (5-3)
  8. 1998 UCLA 6-5 (5-4)
  9. 2023 Michigan 6-5 (4-4)
  10. 2002 Maryland 6-5 (4-4)
  11. 1998 Purdue 6-5 (4-4)
  12. 2006 Rutgers 6-5 (3-5)
  13. 2005 Penn State 4-7 (3-5)
  14. 2009 Iowa 5-6 (2-6)
  15. 2019 Minnesota 5-6 (2-6)
  16. 2020 Indiana 5-6 (2-6)
  17. 1997 Nebraska 4-7 (2-6)
  18. 2017 Northwestern 2-9 (0-8)
Big 12 :

After quite the shake-up last week, every team is basically praying. For Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, and Arizona, none of them have played each other, so tiebreakers will come down first to record versus common opponents, and then national rank. Cincinnati and Oklahoma State still have a shot at getting at-large bids to the Playoff, while Arizona’s praying they get a spot in the Big 12 title game. BYU needs a miracle.

  1. #10 2009 Cincinnati 9-2 (6-2)
  2. #14 2011 Oklahoma State 8-3 (6-2)
  3. #23 1998 Arizona 8-3 (6-2)
  4. #18 1996 BYU 8-3 (5-3)
  5. 2017 UCF 7-4 (5-3)
  6. 2007 West Virginia 7-4 (4-4)
  7. 2007 Kansas 7-4 (4-4)
  8. 2010 TCU 6-5 (4-4)
  9. 1996 Colorado 6-5 (4-4)
  10. 2008 Utah 5-6 (4-4)
  11. 2013 Baylor 6-5 (3-5)
  12. 2008 Texas Tech 5-6 (3-5)
  13. 2020 Iowa State 5-6 (3-5)
  14. 1996 Arizona State 4-7 (3-5)
  15. 1997 Kansas State 5-6 (2-6)
  16. 2015 Houston 3-8 (2-6)
ACC :

What the fuck is this conference. Am I really going to have to figure out a 5-way tie for first? We could have any combination of teams in the ACC title game. Florida State, Miami, and Pitt would certainly benefit the most. There’s a lot of ACC teams with the potential to make the Playoff: Clemson seems like a lock, Louisville is 1 win away, Cal could be a win away, and FSU/Miami/Pitt could win the ACC and get an autobid.

  1. #4 2018 Clemson 9-2 (6-2)
  2. #7 2006 Louisville 9-2 (6-2)
  3. #15 2013 Florida State 8-3 (6-2)
  4. #19 2001 Miami (FL) 8-3 (5-2)
  5. #22 2021 Pittsburgh 7-4 (5-2)
  6. 2010 Stanford 7-4 (5-3)
  7. #12 2004 California 8-3 (4-3)
  8. 1998 Virginia 6-5 (4-3)
  9. 1996 Syracuse 7-4 (3-4)
  10. 1997 North Carolina 6-5 (3-4)
  11. 2006 Boston College 6-5 (3-4)
  12. 2002 NC State 6-5 (3-4)
  13. 2006 Wake Forest 6-5 (3-4)
  14. 2013 Duke 5-6 (2-5)
  15. 2000 Virginia Tech 2-9 (2-5)
  16. 2023 SMU 2-9 (1-6)
  17. 2014 Georgia Tech 2-9 (1-7)
Pac-12 :

Successful season for Oregon State: beat Oregon and won the 2-Pac. All that’s left is now to beat Boise State and ruin their Playoff hopes. Washington State has essentially nothing left to play for, they’ll host Wyoming.

  1. 2000 Oregon State 8-3 (1-0)
  2. 2018 Washington State 4-7 (0-1)
Independents :

Notre Dame @ USC will be fun. UConn and UMass will engage in the CUMass bowl.

  1. 2018 Notre Dame 7-4
  2. 2007 UConn 6-5
  3. 2017 Massachusetts 4-7
American :

We’ve got Memphis @ Tulane this week, winner goes to the American Championship. FAU just needs to beat Tulsa to get in, easier said than done.

  1. 2017 FAU 8-3 (6-1)
  2. 2022 Tulane 7-4 (6-1)
  3. 2019 Memphis 7-4 (6-1)
  4. 2008 Tulsa 7-4 (4-3)
  5. 2018 UAB 6-5 (4-3)
  6. 2021 UTSA 6-5 (3-4)
  7. 2008 Rice 6-5 (3-4)
  8. 2015 Navy 4-6 (3-4)
  9. 2016 Temple 4-7 (3-4)
  10. 2018 Army 3-7 (3-4)
  11. 2007 South Florida 4-7 (2-5)
  12. 1996 East Carolina 3-8 (2-5)
  13. 2013 North Texas 3-8 (2-5)
  14. 2019 Charlotte 3-8 (2-5)
Mountain West :

All right, I’m going to need to sort out some wild tiebreaker scenarios. Boise State’s clinched a spot in the MWC title game, and will face either Fresno, San Jose, Wyoming, or Hawaii.

  1. #11 2009 Boise State 10-1 (6-1)
  2. #21 2020 San Jose State 9-2 (5-2)
  3. 2018 Fresno State 8-3 (5-2)
  4. 1996 Wyoming 7-4 (5-2)
  5. 2007 Hawaii 8-3 (4-2)
  6. 2007 New Mexico 5-6 (3-3)
  7. 1998 Air Force 5-6 (2-4)
  8. 1997 Colorado State 5-6 (2-4)
  9. 2012 Utah State 4-7 (2-4)
  10. 2000 UNLV 3-8 (2-4)
  11. 2010 Nevada 5-7 (1-5)
  12. 2021 San Diego State 3-8 (1-5)
Sun Belt :

Marshall gonna make the Playoff as an at-large?? They’ve just got to win 2 more. They’ve got arguably their toughest Sun Belt matchup of the season this week, visiting 8-3 James Madison. They’ve already clinched a spot in the Sun Belt title game, but they’re playing for their Playoff lives. In the West, there is a 5-way tie for 2nd place, Jesus Christ. South Alabama just needs to win and they’re in, but imagine if they don’t.

East:

  1. #13 1999 M…

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