Oklahoma vs Ohio State in the National Championship game isn't too hard to believe. It may not be your first prediction, but it seems possible. How Ohio State made it into the National Championship game might be a little bit harder to believe.
Ohio State fans (or maybe just me?) hold their breath every time they see Braxton take a big hit. Many realize that Braxton is crucial to Ohio State's success. Yes, Kenny Guiton did an amazing job leading us back to victory against Purdue, but can he lead this team for multiple games?
In our NCAA 14 video game simulation, the answer to that question is yes. Braxton suffered an injury to his knee during the Iowa game and Kenny Guiton was forced into action for the rest of the season, minus what turned out to be the National Championship game.
While the Buckeyes lost the National Championship in the simulation, many have to consider ourselves lucky to have made it that far. Our Heisman candidate QB missed half the year and a starting WR, Corey Brown, misses the entire year, but a new Heisman candidate for the Buckeyes was born. The Buckeyes continued to find a way to win in our simulation, but ultimately fell short in the title game.
Continue reading for more details from our simulation of Ohio State's schedule in the newest NCAA 14 video game. We have you covered from game by game stats, season stats, awards, early departures, coaching movement, and more pictures of your Buckeyes in NCAA 14.
In our one unedited, untouched simulation of a season of college football in NCAA 14, we saw the Buckeyes overcome numerous obstacles to win the Big Ten title against Michigan State and ultimately get the chance to be crowned champions against Bob Stoops and Oklahoma. Braxton Miller was playing well and was considered a Heisman front runner before suffering a knee injury against Iowa. Kenny Guiton was forced into action and stepped up. His performance would earn him second team All-Big Ten honors, despite missing two complete Big Ten games.
With our Heisman hopeful out until the bowl game, new players were forced to step up. Guiton came in and threw for 588 yards in his second career start. But, one player stepped up to become a Heisman contender of his own. Carlos Hyde. Most don't consider Hyde to be a legitimate contender for the Heisman trophy, but he was able to step up following the injury to Miller. Not only was Hyde a threat running the ball, but he was also a big threat catching passes out of the backfield. Hyde would finish fourth in the Heisman voting to Boise State RB Jay Ajayi, Oklahoma QB Blake Bell, and Texas A&M QB Johnny "Football" Manziel.
Coach Urban Meyer and staff were forced with a very difficult decision when it came to the National Championship game. Braxton was ready to play after missing several weeks, but Kenny Guiton was on a roll. He just finished up leading Ohio State to a Big Ten Championship by beating Michigan State in a shootout. The week prior he beat Michigan in The Game 45-21, although Michigan finished with a disappointing 5-7 record. Coach Urban Meyer decided to insert Braxton Miller into the starting lineup over the hot Kenny G. Braxton struggled, especially down the stretch, finishing a disappointing 17-40 passing in a 48-38 loss to Oklahoma. The Buckeyes trailed 23-21 at the half and would never get closer after Oklahoma outscored Ohio State 15-3 in the third quarter.
Questions concerning Ohio State's poor schedule held true in the video game simulation. Ohio State would only play one ranked opponent in the regular season, Wisconsin. Michigan State and Oklahoma in the Championship games were also ranked. Ohio State's loss in the title game pushed their ranking to fourth in the polls after entering the game as the number one team in the nation.
Ohio State 36 Buffalo 10
Passing: Braxton Miller - 15-19, 163 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing: Miller - 24 carries, 110 yards, 1 TD
Carlos Hyde - 13 carries, 84 yards
Receiving: Hyde - 4 rec, 38 yards, 1 TD
Devin Smith - 3 rec, 44 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Ryan Shazier - 10
INT: Bradley Roby - 1
Sacks: Adolphus Washington - 2.0
Record: 8-5
Ohio State 27 SDSU 10
Passing: Braxton Miller - 20-30, 216 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 18 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD
Miller - 14 carries, 61 yards
Receiving: Devin Smith - 6 rec, 61 yards, 1 TD
Evan Spencer - 5 rec, 69 yards, 2 TD
Tackles: Josh Perry - 9
INT: Christian Bryant, Doran Grant - 1
Sacks: Adolphus Washington - 2.0
Record: 7-6
Ohio State 35 Cal 21
Passing: Braxton Miller - 27-38, 341 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INT
Rushing: Jordan Hall - 17 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD
Miller - 10 carries, 53 yards
Receiving: Devin Smith - 12 rec, 137 yards, 2 TDs
Hall - 7 rec, 95 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Adolphus Washington - 9
INT: Armani Reeves - 1
Sacks: Michael Bennett - 1.0
Record: 4-8
Ohio State 56 Florida A&M 0
Passing: Braxton Miller - 15-18, 212 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing: Jordan Hall - 20 carries, 109 yards, 1 TD
Carlos Hyde - 18 carries, 111 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Evan Spencer - 6 rec, 88 yards, 1 TD
Devin Smith - 4 rec, 54 yards
Tackles: Josh Perry - 6
INT: Curtis Grant - 1
Sacks: Noah Spence - 1.0
Record: N/A
Ohio State 44 Wisconsin 34
Passing: Braxton Miller - 20-33, 349 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 14 carries, 71 yards
Miller - 13 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Chris Fields - 4 rec, 136 yards 1 TD
Devin Smith - 3 rec, 56 yards
Tackles: Michael Bennett - 7
INT: Ryan Shazier, Armani Reeves - 1
Sacks: Michael Bennett, Josh Perry - 1.0
Record: 10-3
Chris Fields with a big catch against ranked opponent, Wisconsin.Ohio State 49 Northwestern 17
Passing: Braxton Miller - 20-29, 254 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 18 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD
Jordan Hall - 11 carries, 56 yards
Receiving: Devin Smith - 7 rec, 111 yards, 1 TD
Evan Spencer - 5 rec, 82 yards
Tackles: Josh Perry - 7
INT: Bradley Roby - 1
Sacks: Ryan Shazier, Joel Hale - 1.0
Record: 6-7
Ohio State 31 Iowa 14
Passing: Braxton Miller - 15-23, 167 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 20 carries, 101 yards 1 TD
Jordan Hall - 6 carries, 38 yards
Receiving: Devin Smith - 11 rec, 87 yards, 1 TD
Nick Vannett - 4 rec, 46 yards
Tackles: Josh Perry - 13
INT: 0
Sacks: Noah Spence, Michael Bennett - 1.5
Record: 9-4
Ohio State 45 Penn State 20
Passing: Kenny Guiton - 20-29, 274 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 16 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD
Jordan Hall - 13 carries, 61 yards
Receiving: Devin Smith - 7 rec, 132 yards, 2 TD
Hyde - 4 rec, 54 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Ryan Shazier - 8
INT: 0
Sacks: Adolphus Washington, Ryan Shazier, Tommy Schutt - 1.0
Record: 5-7
Heisman finalist, Carlos Hyde, with a rushing touchdown in a win over Penn State.Ohio State 48 Purdue 17
Passing: Kenny Guiton - 28-41, 588 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 10 carries, 65 yards,
Guiton - 13 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Devin Smith - 8 rec, 147 yards, 1 TD
Evan Spencer - 5 rec, 161 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Ryan Shazier, Josh Perry - 6
INT: Christian Bryant - 1
Sacks: Josh Perry - 1.5
Record: 6-7
Ohio State 34 Illinois 13
Passing: Kenny Guiton - 21-37, 308 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 10 carries, 66 yards,
Jordan Hall - 13 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Devin Smith - 6 rec, 87 yards, 2 TD
Hall - 4 rec, 88 yards
Tackles: Ryan Shazier, Christian Bryant - 6
INT: Josh Perry, Camren Williams - 1
Sacks: Trey Johnson* - 2.0
Record: 4-8
*Supposed to be David Perkins.
Ohio State 35 Indiana 6
Passing: Kenny Guiton - 23-33, 227 yards, 1 TDs
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 17 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD
Guiton - 17 carries, 66 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Evan Spencer - 7 rec, 84 yards
Devin Smith - 2 rec, 36 yards
Tackles: Bradley Roby - 7
INT: Corey Brown - 1
Sacks: Adolphus Washington - 1.5
Record: 5-7
Ohio State 45 Michigan 21
Passing: Kenny Guiton - 20-30, 346 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Guiton - 19 carries, 74 yards, 2 TD
Carlos Hyde - 11 carries, 60 yards
Receiving: Chris Fields - 10 rec, 189 yards, 1 TD
Nick Vannett - 4 rec, 95 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Noah Spence - 9
INT: C.J. Barnett, Josh Perry - 1
Sacks: Noah Spence - 2.5
Record: 5-7
Tightend Nick Vannett with a touchdown.B1g Championship: Ohio State 45 Michigan State 41
Passing: Kenny Guiton - 39-58, 473 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INT
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 24 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD
Guiton - 9 carries, 24 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Devin Smith - 11 rec, 154 yards
Hyde - 6 rec, 82 yards
Tackles: Camren Williams - 13
INT: Bradley Roby - 1
Sacks: Noah Spence - 2.0
Record: 11-3
National Championship: Oklahoma 48 Ohio State 38
Passing: Braxton Miller - 17-40, 393 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Carlos Hyde - 28 carries, 124 yards 1 TD
Miller - 20 carries, 75 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Evan Spencer - 7 rec, 82 yards, 1 TD
Hyde - 5 rec, 79 yards
Tackles: Camren Williams - 12
INT: 0
Sacks: Adolphus Washington - 2.0
Record: 13-0
All-American Joel Hale leads the Silver Bullet defense. Season Stats/Awards
QB Stats/Awards:
Braxton Miller: 159-240, 2095 yards, 21 TDs. 113 carries for 439 yards, 6 TDs.
Kenny Guiton: 164-252, 2395 yards, 18 TDs, 95 carries for 401 yards, 8 TDs.
Kenny Guiton would be awarded 2nd Team All-Big Ten. Braxton missed most of the Big Ten season, so it's no surprise that he was beat out by Guiton. An interesting observation is that Braxton's season long run was only 12 yards. One would think that will be quite different during the real season. Braxton was a finalist for the Maxwell and O'Brien awards, despite missing half the season.
RB Stats/Awards:
Carlos Hyde: 219 carries for 1190 yards, 10 TDs. 36 receptions for 494 yards, 5 TDs.
Jordan Hall: 115 carries for 538 yards, 8 TDs. 24 receptions for 310 yards, 2 TDs.
Hyde's performance helped him finish 4th in the Heisman voting while being named 1st team All-Big Ten and 2nd team All-American. He also was a finalist for the Walter Camp and Doak Walker awards. Hall proved to be a multi-purpose threat for Tom Herman. Carlos Hyde was Urban Meyer's first 1,000 yard rusher.
Receiver Stats/Awards:
Devin Smith: 84 receptions for 1162 yards, 11 TDs. 2 carries for 12 yards.
Evan Spencer: 55 receptions for 740 yards, 5 TDs.
Chris Fields: 43 receptions for 708 yards, 5 TDs.
Nick Vannett: 40 receptions for 546 yards, 5 TDs.
Michael Thomas: 22 receptions for 292 yards, 5 TDs.
Marcus Baugh: 9 receptions for 120 yards.
Dontre Wilson: 3 receptions for 26 yards.
Corey Brown: 2 receptions for 56 yards.
Devin Smith stepped up big time for the Buckeyes after Corey Brown missed almost the entire season with an ACL injury. Devin Smith would be named 2nd team All-American and 1st team All-Big Ten. He was a finalist for the Bilentnikoff and Best Returner awards. Chris Fields earned 2nd team All-Big Ten. Nick Vannett was a finalist for the Mackey award.
Offensive Lineman Stats/Awards:
Taylor Decker: 42 pancakes. 3 sacks allowed.
Jack Mewhort: 43 pancakes. 3 sacks allowed.
Andrew Norwell: 34 pancakes. 6 sacks allowed.
Corey Linsley: 29 pancakes. 5 sacks allowed.
Marcus Hall: 21 pancakes. 5 sacks allowed.
Mewhort, Norwell, and Linsley were all 1st team All-American and Big Ten. Decker and Hall both made 2nd team All-Big Ten. All five of the lineman were finalists for all of the offensive lineman awards, but failed to win one. Very impressive for a group that was once considered the weak spot of the team.
Defensive Stats/Awards
Josh Perry: 81 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 INT
Ryan Shazier: 78 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT - 1st team All-Big Ten.
Noah Spence: 69 tackles, 8.5 sacks. - 1st team All-American and Big Ten.
Adolphus Washington: 66 tackles, 8.5 sacks.
Camren Williams: 64 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT - 2nd Team All American and All-Big Ten.
Bradley Roby: 53 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 3 INT - 2nd team All-Big Ten
Christian Bryant: 44 tackles, 2 INT - 1st team All-Big Ten
Michael Bennett: 37 tackles, 5.5 sacks. - 1st team All-Big Ten
Joel Hale: 35 tackles, 2.5 sacks. - 1st team All-American and All-Big Ten
Vonn Bell: 5 tackles - Freshman All-American
Some players were left of this list because of the quantity of players and stats. I mentioned everyone that won an award or was one of the statistical leaders. Appears to me that Josh Perry and Adolphus Washington were snubbed. The Buckeyes were fourth in the nation in sacks. This would definitely be something that Buckeye fans would love to see out of the Buckeyes this fall. Ohio State did allow the second most yards in the conference, only edging out Purdue, however, the scoring defense was second in the Big Ten behind Nebraska.
Offseason
Coming off a 13-1 season, Urban Meyer was given a seven year contract extension after being named Coach of the Year. Tom Herman and Luke Fickell had other plans, both leaving the Buckeyes for head coaching jobs. Luke Fickell would leave his DC post to take over at Kent State, while Tom Herman would be the next head coach at Central Michigan. To replace Tom Herman, Urban Meyer hired UNC OC Blake Anderson. Anderson helped UNC to a second place finish in the ACC by averaging 29.6 PPG, good for 26th in the nation. James Willis, formerly DC of UL Lafayette, was hired to replace Luke Fickell. UL Lafayette had the 17th-best scoring defense in the nation under Willis.
The Buckeyes only lost one player due to early departure. RB Warren Ball decided to follow Luke Fickell to Kent State due to lack of playing time at Ohio State. Bradley Roby and Ryan Shazier did not consider leaving early.
Ohio State had seven seniors drafted into the NFL. Christian Bryant was selected in the first round. OL Jack Mewhort and Andrew Norwell both were 2nd round picks along with WR Corey Brown and RB Carlos Hyde. Kenny Guiton's impressive performance resulted in being picked in the 4th round along with OL Corey Linsley.
Overall, would you be happy with a 13-1 finish if Braxton Miller was forced to miss half the season and Corey Brown missed the entire season?
Is it time for some real college football yet? Enough with the hypotheticals, lets play some football!
