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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/jimbobbypaul on 2024-08-14 17:56:15+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.
#9 2011 Oklahoma State (10-3) @ #8 2008 Florida (9-3)
1st quarter
Opening game of the 12-team Playoff, Oklahoma State kicking off to Florida…HERE. WE. GO. Florida gets a nice return out to the 32 yard line, and Tim Tebow suits up to go to work. Chris Rainey’s stopped at the line, Tebow scrambles for 4, and his pass on 3rd down is just out of reach of Deonte Thompson for a 3 and out. Good stop for Oklahoma State early, their only realistic hope of winning is in a shootout, so they’ll take any stops they can get. Oklahoma State starts on their own 30. Quick pass for 9 and a 1 yard run gets them the first first down of the game. Another short gain, and then Joseph Randle’s pounding ahead for 16 yards into Florida territory. Handoff up the gut, and HE’S BREAKING INTO THE SECOND LEVEL. RANDLE. 44 YARDS FOR THE OPENING SCORE, 7-0 OKLAHOMA STATE.
Now Florida gets going. Jeff Demps 10 yards off tackle left. Rainey for 14 on a sweep play. Tebow’s short pass goes for 17 yards and Florida’s into the red zone. The drive stalls, and Jonathan Phillips comes on for a 42 yard field goal, he’s 31/33 on the season. And the kick is…wide right. Good start for OSU. Weeden immediately hits Horton downfield for a 33 yard pickup to midfield. On 3rd and 8, Tracy Moore comes up with a nice catch and goes down to the Florida 14. A few plays later, it’s Justin Blackmon in the corner of the end zone for a TD. 14-0 Oklahoma State in the Swamp. The two teams both go 3 and out each, and Florida finally gets their first points on a field goal at the beginning of the 2nd quarter, 14-3.
2nd-3rd quarters
Blackmon starts to body the Florida defense, catching passes of 23 and 17 yards. Quinn Sharp nails a 47 yarder to go up 17-3. Florida, needing to keep pace in a shootout, goes 3 and out again. Weeden goes 6/6 on passes to the Florida 36, this is getting out of hand. 36 yard bomb to the end zone, TOUCHDOWN JOSH COOPER. IT IS 24-3 COWBOYS. Florida manages to answer with a quick TD drive of their own, and another Quinn Sharp field goal makes it 27-10 Oklahoma State at halftime.
4th quarter
Fast forward to the 4th quarter and while the scoring’s slowed down a bit, Oklahoma State still leads 33-13, shockingly. Florida knocking on the doorstep, Chris Rainey runs in a 12 yard TD to make it 33-19, the extra point missed as Jonathan Phillips continues to have an off day. Facing 3rd and 10 deep in their own territory, the Swamp crowd is audible in the Oklahoma State huddle, but Weeden still finds a receiver for a first. Not just one first down conversion, but multiple, and a 22 yard pass to the end zone found Isaiah Anderson to make it 40-19 with 10:51 left. Florida scored to make it 40-26 with 5:54 left, but Joseph Randle broke off another 48 yard run that led to a TD to go up 47-26. On 4th down, Florida’s attempt came up short, and the 2008 Gator dream was over. For good measure, Weeden found Blackmon in the end zone one more time for a punctuation score, winning the game 54-26.
Brandon Weeden was the game’s MVP, going 36/52 for 421 yards and 4 TD 0 INT. Joseph Randle had 22 carries for 174 yards and 2 TD. Justin Blackmon had 12 catches for 122 yards and 2 TD. People doubted Oklahoma State’s ability to come into a hostile environment and hang with Tim Tebow and that stacked team, but Oklahoma State was hungrier. They wanted to be here. And it showed on the field.
Final Score: 2011 Oklahoma State 54, 2008 Florida 26
#10 1999 Marshall (12-1) @ #7 2023 Washington (11-2)
1st quarter
It’s a cold night in Seattle as we get set for kickoff between 2023 Washington and 1999 Marshall. Two teams that nobody really expected to be here, playing for a chance to be named best team of the modern era. Groza Award winning kicker Billy Malashevich to boot it…and WE ARE UNDERWAY! Michael Penix underthrows Ja’Lynn Polk on 3rd down, and it’s a 3 and out for the Marshall defense early. Nice throws by Pennington as he gets them into field goal range, and Malashevich hits the 42 yarder for a 3-0 Marshall lead. Penix getting in rhythm now, dinking and dunking for yardage. Down to the 15, throw to Odunze, makes a man miss, TOUCHDOWN! 7-3 Washington with a quick bounce-back drive as Penix goes 5/7 for 70 yards and a TD. Marshall looks to answer, but Washington’s front 7 stuffs RB Doug Chapman multiple times for another stop. Marshall to punt, BLOCKED! WASHINGTON BALL AT THE 23. Pass to Germie Bernard inside the 5…jump ball to Odunze…TOUCHDOWN. 14-3 Washington, and the Playoff atmosphere is starting to go crazy. Marshall needs some sort of answer to keep pace. 3rd and 3, Chapman up the middle for 11 yards. 3rd and 8, Pennington finds Poole for 16 and a first. The first quarter ends with Marshall on Washington’s 13 yard line, down 14-3.
2nd quarter
Once again facing a 3rd down situation on 3rd and goal from the 2, Doug Chapman runs it in for the TD, and a nice answer by Marshall to make it 14-10. Washington marches downfield again, Penix to Polk for 28 yards shedding tackles, Odunze to Marshall’s 11 yard line. 3rd and 4 now, Penix, FINDS GERMIE BERNARD IN THE END ZONE- DROPPED! Marshall catches a break and Washington makes their FG to go up 17-10. Both teams fail to score on their next possession, and Malashevich makes a 36 yarder, 17-13. Penix on 3rd and 7 looking to convert, PICKED OFF! The All-American Maurice Hines! Down to the Washington 25! The drive stalls again for Marshall, and again it’s a Malashevich FG to make it 17-16 Washington. 1:17 left in the half, Washington on 3rd and 10, finds Westover for 10 yards. Marshall’s defense starts leaving Giles Jackson open and Penix takes him, down to the 15. Penix to the end zone–Odunze again–touchdown! 9 seconds left in the half, Washington takes a 24-16 lead, and Marshall knees it to go into the half down 8.
3rd quarter
Marshall ball to start the 2nd half. Bob Pruett’s offense runs for 3 yards, passes for 10, back and forth. Finally they’re stopped at the 32, and Malashevich’s 49 yard field goal is…no good. Seattle wind pushed it left. And for just the second time all season, Groza Award winner Billy Malashevich has missed. Washington goes on a field goal drive themselves to go up 27-16. On 3rd and 7, Pennington scrambles but can’t pick up the first down, and with just 5:00 left in the 3rd quarter, Marshall hasn’t scored any points yet this half. Dillon Johnson goes 23 yards up the middle and puts the Huskies across the 50. On 3rd and 7, Penix’s pass…finds McMillan for a first down, down to the Marshall 22. Could be an early dagger with a touchdown, Penix’s pass IS INTERCEPTED! John Grace picks it off for Marshall at their own 18 yard line. After a few good throws by Pennington, the 3rd quarter ends with Marshall on 1st and goal from the 9 yard line, Washington up 27-16.
4th quarter
1st and goal from the 9, handoff is buried for a loss of 1. 2nd and goal, Pennington throws it out the back of the end zone. 3rd and goal, Pennington looking for Lanier Washington…incomplete. Malashevich converts the 27 yarder to make it 27-19 Washington, Marshall’s now settled for 4 field goals. Washington on their own 34, 1st and 10, handoff to Dillon Johnson…into the secondary! DILLON JOHNSON, 66 YARD HOUSE CALL! THIS STADIUM IS SHAKING. Dillon Johnson has been quiet all night, but comes up in a big way to make it 34-19 Washington. Marshall needs to answer with a touchdown. Turner runs for 16 yards and they’re to the 32. But yet again, on 3rd and 9, Pennington’s pass doesn’t find a receiver, and Malashevich this time makes the 49 yarder, in the wind, to make it 34-22 Washington. With 8 minutes to go, Washington starts on their own 35. Penix to Johnson picks up a first down. JOHNSON. STILL GOING. DILLON JOHNSON FOR ANOTHER 65 YARD CATCH AND RUN, TOUCHDOWN HUSKIES! THAT MIGHT DO IT! SAY HELLO TO A 3RD TIME REMATCH WITH USC.
Pennington drives down to the 8 yard line, and finally, with 5 minutes left, he finds a man in the end zone for the touchdown. 41-28 Washington. Dillon Johnson’s 3 runs get stuffed for a 3 and out, and Marshall gets a good punt return to their own 44 with 3:23 left. Still a chance with a quick score and a stop. Pennington to Chapman for 16 yards across the 50. Pennington sc…
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