Jordan Hudson, a wide receiver for SMU, scored a touchdown on a 73-yard pass during a simulated game between BYU and SMU in the newly released EA Sports College Football 25 video game.
As EA Sports reintroduces college football gaming, Deseret News is simulating every BYU game against FBS opponents this season. Heading into Dallas, BYU is facing a double-digit underdog status for their Week 2 clash with SMU, a crucial matchup as the Cougars aim for a postseason return after sitting out in 2023.
To analyze the matchup, Deseret News conducted a simulation of Friday’s game, which proved to be closely contested.
The simulation setup involved several ground rules, including 12-minute quarters, with room for adjustments in future simulations. The computer simulated the game without user interference, factoring in injuries and depth chart modifications.
For the BYU-SMU game, Jake Retzlaff was positioned as QB1 for BYU, swapping with Gerry Bohanon, despite the latter being rated higher in the video game. On the SMU side, Preston Stone played the entire game, in line with the simulation’s need for consistent quarterback play, though in reality, the Mustangs alternate between Stone and Kevin Jennings.
The simulation’s final score was SMU 38, BYU 33. A significant moment occurred early in the fourth quarter when BYU reduced a double-digit deficit to five points at 31-26. The Cougars stopped the Mustangs after a Retzlaff interception, but another turnover occurred when Retzlaff’s pass was intercepted by SMU’s Cale Sanders Jr., who returned it for a pick-six, extending the lead to 38-26 with just over seven minutes remaining.
Throughout the game, BYU only led once but managed to stay within a score of SMU for most of the duration. Both teams delivered three scoring drives in the first half, ending with BYU trailing 17-13 after a missed 21-yard field goal attempt just before halftime.
In the second half, after a BYU punt, the Mustangs increased their lead with a touchdown from Stone. Both teams exchanged scores, but BYU’s failure on a 2-point conversion kept them behind until the late game.
In the final moments, BYU responded with a 75-yard drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Keelan Marion, narrowing the score to 38-33 with 2:23 left on the clock. However, SMU successfully ran out the clock, aided by a significant 40-yard pass to Hudson.
Star performances included Stone for SMU, who completed 19 of 22 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns, and Hudson, who had six receptions for 217 yards and three scores. Retzlaff led BYU with 494 passing yards and three touchdowns, although his two costly interceptions in the fourth quarter marred the performance. Additionally, LJ Martin contributed 139 rushing yards and a touchdown.
In terms of overall statistics, BYU gathered a total of 605 yards, while SMU had 494 yards. BYU struggled in the first half with only 13 points despite reaching the SMU red zone on each possession, while the Mustangs capitalized by maintaining possession without turnovers and converting 6 of 10 third downs. BYU finished 7 of 13 on third downs.