Photo courtesy of Iowa State athletics
Introduction
We’ve created a 130-team bracket using ESPN’s FPI as our ranking system.
“But, anyone can create a bracket, how will the games be simulated?” Great question; NCAA Game Sim was used.
For each game on the bracket, the matchup was simulated once and every day a write-up will be done.
For the matchup, player statistics will be simulated and included in the write-ups.
Finally, thanks to the NCAA Game Sim premium membership, we’ll show the results of doing 100 simulations all at once. This is to see if a given result was more towards the expected side or if a given result was more towards the upset or luckier side.
All of the results have been simulated and tabulated, so at the time of writing the introduction, the results are already in.
This is designed to be fun, so please enjoy.
From Georgia to Massachusetts, here’s the 130-team bracket:
Match 75
(2) Iowa State vs. (10) California
How Iowa State Got Here: 26-0 win over (15) Louisiana-Monroe
How California Got Here: 37-10 win over (7) Liberty
Iowa State’s Brock Purdy played about as perfect as a quarterback can play.
Purdy was 31-for-36 with 408 yards and five touchdowns.
Two of those touchdowns went to tight end Charlie Kolar, who also finished with seven receptions and 120 yards.
The final, exclamation point touchdown for the Cyclones was scored by running back Breece Hall, who had a relatively quiet game. Hall finished with 56 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
California put up a good fight offensively.
Quarterback Chase Garbers was 22-for-32 with 233 yards.
Running back Christopher Brown Jr. led all rushers with 102 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
In the end, California had no answers for Iowa State’s offense. Iowa State rolls, 42-20.
In 100 simulations, Iowa State won 74 of them by an average margin of 32.5-23.1.
With California’s loss, the Pac-12 becomes the first Power 5 conference to fall to 50% of its teams remaining.
Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (3) Texas vs. (6) Western Kentucky
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Cincinnati vs. (7) UCF
Updated Bracket
Teams Lost, In Order:
PLAY-IN
Massachusetts, Connecticut
ROUND 1
Akron, New Mexico State, Florida International, Temple, New Mexico, Bowling Green, Rice, Vanderbilt, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, Arkansas State, Charlotte, Southern Mississippi, Ohio, Kansas, Duke, UNLV, Georgia Southern, UTEP, South Alabama, San Jose State, South Florida, Arizona, Old Dominion, Louisiana Tech, Ball State, Minnesota, Navy, Nebraska, Buffalo, Troy, Colorado State, North Texas, Eastern Michigan, Northwestern, Northern Illinois, Florida Atlantic, Stanford, Tulane, Colorado, Wyoming, Middle Tennessee, Rutgers, Miami University, Indiana, Louisville, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, West Virginia, Central Michigan, Missouri, Syracuse, Tulsa, Western Michigan, Utah State, Liberty, UTSA, Boston College, Nevada, South Carolina, Army, Washington, Air Force, Virginia Tech
ROUND 2
Toledo, Alabama, Illinois, TCU, UAB, Marshall, USC, San Diego State, California
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 5/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 8/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 7/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma, 1. Oklahoma State)
Big Ten: 8/14 (highest remaining: 1. Ohio State, 1. Michigan)
Conference USA: 1/14 (highest remaining: 6. Western Kentucky)
Independents: 2/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)
MAC: 1/12 (highest remaining: 13. Kent State)
Mountain West: 2/12 (highest remaining: 5. Boise State)
Pac-12: 6/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 10/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 5/10 (highest remaining: 5. Appalachian State)