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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/jimbobbypaul on 2024-08-15 17:59:04+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.
Sugar Bowl: #1 2020 Alabama (13-0) vs #9 2011 Oklahoma State (11-3)
2020 Alabama begins their quest to become the greatest modern era team today. They’ve been far and away the best team in the sim, going 13-0 with 2 wins over 2019 LSU. 2011 Oklahoma State has been great in their own right, winning the Big 12 and shocking everyone by beating 2008 Florida in the first round of the Playoff. Oklahoma State is donning their white tops, white helmets, and orange pants, while Bama goes with the traditional home uniform. Will Reichard kicks it off to Oklahoma State, and we are underway.
1st quarter
Weeden is pressured and sacked by Christian Barmore on the opening play, and Alabama looks hungry. Not soon after Weeden finds Justin Blackmon on a 20 yard post route. He finds Blackmon again for 14, Harrison for 13, and Cooper for 13, and OSU’s got 1st and goal on their opening drive. Weeden looks to pass, draw play to Joseph Randle, up the gut, touchdown, Oklahoma State! Just like the Florida game, they score on their opening drive. Just like Weeden, Mac Jones puts the ball right in his playmakers’ hands, getting down to the 5 yard line. Trey Sanders is stopped on a 3rd and 2 toss, and Bama opts for a 21 yard field goal to make it 7-3 after a drive each. Weeden gets back to work and puts together a methodical drive, down to the Bama 19. Weeden looking end zone, HAS BLACKMON OPEN, TOUCHDOWN OKLAHOMA STATE! 14-3 IN THE FIRST! Except there’s a flag! Holding nullifies the touchdown, and it goes back to 1st and 20. On 3rd and 22, Weeden scrambling rolling right, floats a ball to the end zone and IT’S CAUGHT BY TRACY MOORE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN! This time it stands, and it’s 14-3 Oklahoma State here! Bama gets to midfield, but their pass on 3rd and 1 is dropped, and the quarter ends with Oklahoma State on their own 26.
2nd quarter
Weeden’s again cooking, but faces 3rd and 4 on the Alabama 37. Blackmon’s open on a slant, and Blackmon’s into the second level for a 19 yard gain. Alabama’s covid-year defense is not holding up well against the Weeden-Blackmon combination so far. On 2nd and 4, Weeden hits Josh Cooper, who spins into the end zone, and it’s a TOUCHDOWN Oklahoma State! I don’t believe what we’re seeing here, it’s 21-3 Cowboys! On 2nd and 17 in their own territory, Mac Jones is SACKED for a loss of 6! The Oklahoma State fans are REALLY fired up now. 3rd and 23, Mac looking downfield, and IT’S A BUSTED COVERAGE. JAYLEN WADDLE CATCHES IT IN STRIDE, AND HE’S GONE. 69 YARDS TO THE HOUSE. Just what the doctor ordered for Bama, and that takes some wind out of OSU’s sails. On the next drive, Weeden underthrows his receiver, and Bama gets the ball. Mac Jones links up with DeVonta Smith for 21 yards and Najee Harris twice for 10 yards each, but the drive eventually withers, and Reichard nails a 49 yard field goal right down the middle. 21-13 Oklahoma State with 2:53 left in the half, still in control. Weeden hands off to Randle on another draw play, and Randle is rumbling! To the 30! 20! 10! Down to the 7 yard line for Joseph Randle! 2 plays later, Weeden fires a bullet and hits a BULLSEYE on Justin Blackmon for another touchdown. In one half, Oklahoma State has put 28 on 2020 Alabama. Alabama fails to score on their next drive, OSU doesn’t have enough time, and the half ends with a 28-13 upset brewing for Oklahoma State.
3rd quarter
Alabama puts together a decent opening drive, but Mac takes a sack on 3rd and 3, and Reichard’s required to knock in another 40 yard field goal to make it 28-16. Still OSU’s defense continues to be stingy. And if you can believe it, Weeden continues to throw for gains of 10-15 yards to get down to the Alabama redzone. Down on Alabama’s 7 yard line, Weeden finds Justin Horton, who gets LEVELED! And the ball is loose, ref says it’s a fumble in the end zone! Ball free in the end zone, and OKLAHOMA STATE’S ON IT FOR A TOUCHDOWN! The refs review it to see if it was actually caught…confirmed. 35-16 Oklahoma State, they’ve only punted once in 37 minutes of gametime. Alabama brings the ball all the way down to the 4 yard line. 1st and goal nobody open, Mac Jones scrambles for a loss of 1 yard. 2nd and goal, again OSU’s got it covered, and Jones scrambles for just a yard. 3rd and goal, and Mac’s pass to Metchie is well covered, yet another stop for Oklahoma State! Saban looks disgusted, and opts to kick yet another field goal, from only 21 yards out. The quarter eventually comes to a close with Oklahoma State leading 35-19, Alabama really showing their rust.
4th quarter
On 3rd down at midfield, Mac feels the pressure, but delivers a pass to Waddle, who runs for additional yardage to the OSU 31. A few passes and a 12 yard Najee rush, and it’s 1st and goal on the 8. Mac going through his progressions, looks for Slade Bolden, and BOLDEN’S got it for the touchdown! For the 2 point conversion, Mac goes right back to Bolden, and he’s got it in the end zone for 2. With 10:38 left, Alabama’s made it a one-possession 35-27 game, and they’ve outscored OSU 14-7 in the second half. Facing 3rd and 9 with the Sugar Bowl crowd starting to get raucous, Weeden hits Blackmon for 14 yards and a first down as he’s done so many times in this sim. 2 plays later, Justin Horton’s wide open for a 20 yard gain. 3rd and 6 on the Alabama 8, Oklahoma State opts to play it safe, and hands it off to Randle for no gain. On comes Quinn Sharp for the 25 yard field goal…and it’s right down the middle. OSU extends their lead to 38-27 with just under 7 minutes left. On 3rd and 3 from their own 18, Najee Harris breaks off a 41 yard run into OSU territory. 2 plays later, Alabama’s in the OSU red zone. 1st and 10, Mac looking end zone, and he’s SACKED! Handoff to Najee for no gain, and it’s 3rd and 17. Mac looking, finds Slade Bolden for 23 yards, but there’s holding, and they’re out of field goal range. 3rd and 27, Mac’s pass falls incomplete. 4th and 27, Mac’s pass is…INCOMPLETE. OKLAHOMA STATE TAKES OVER WITH 4 MINUTES TO GO.
OSU’s rushes go for little yardage, and Bama gets the ball back with 2:23 left. As time slips away from them, they get the ball to Oklahoma State’s 30 yard line with just 15 seconds left. Mac Jones lobs a jump ball to Jaylen Waddle in the end zone, and he comes down with it! DeVonta Smith catches the 2 point conversion, and it’s a 38-35 game with just 7 seconds left. The onside kick immediately bounces into the hands of an Oklahoma State player, and the game is over.
OKLAHOMA STATE! HAS BEATEN! 2020 ALABAMA! 38 TO 35! Brandon Weeden will get a statue in Stillwater, winning MVP going 32 of 43 passing for 379 yards, 4 TD, and 0 INT. Justin Blackmon had 9 of those catches for 116 yards and a TD. Yet again he comes up big when the Cowboys need it. Oklahoma State will play the winner of Boise State/LSU.
Final Score: 2011 Oklahoma State 38, 2020 Alabama 35
Rose Bowl: #2 2004 USC (11-2) vs #7 2023 Washington (12-2)
It’s a beautiful night here at the Rose Bowl for a Playoff match between 2 of the greatest Pac teams of all time. For 2004 USC, they’re no stranger to playing here, having beaten Michigan in the 2004 Rose Bowl, the next year, they’d face Texas in maybe the greatest college football game of all time. For 2023 Washington, this is most players’ first time playing in the Rose Bowl, but they’re no stranger to big games. They beat Texas in their Playoff semifinal, and played a good game against Michigan in the natty. For both teams, a wealth of experience and talent will be put on the field tonight. From From 2003-04 and 2022-23, USC and Washington went 25-1 and 25-3, respectively. They’re no strangers to showing up big in big time games. They have history this year–USC beat Washington in Seattle 42-35 in Week 10 to give the Huskies their first loss in this sim, and again 31-27 in OT, in the Big Ten Championship. Now, it’s the biggest game of all, and Washington has a chance to make up for the first two. Last score wins.
1st quarter
Reggie Bush gets a nice return out to the 34 yard line to start things off. It doesn’t take long for USC to get going, testing the physicality of Washington’s defense with 15, 11, and 11 yard runs up the middle from LenDale W…
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