The 128 Team Playoff, Day 105: Clemson vs. BYU

Photo credit: Jaren Wilkey/BYU

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 106

(1) Clemson vs. (5) BYU

How Clemson Got Here: 10-6 win over (16) Vanderbilt, 34-9 win over (9) San Diego State

How BYU Got Here: 17-16 win over (12) Colorado, 49-37 win over (4) Purdue

This was one of the most complete offensive performances for the 2021 Clemson team — simulated or actual.

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was 26-for-38 with 340 yards and four touchdowns.

Running back Will Shipley added 84 yards rushing on 17 carries.

Receiver Joseph Ngata went for more than 100 yards for just the third time in his career. Ngata finished with five catches, 109 yards, and a touchdown.

For BYU, the offense just never got out of second gear.

Quarterback Jaren Hall was 19-for-30 with 179 yards and a touchdown. Those are not necessarily bad stats, but not the type of numbers that would be enough to beat Clemson on this day.

BYU running back Tyler Allgeier led all rushers with 115 yards on 16 carries.

Clemson played its most complete game of the tournament. After a bad start in its game against Vanderbilt, the Tigers have put together a couple convincing wins. The Tigers win, 37-12.

In 100 simulations, BYU won 56 of them by an average margin of 24.1-22. It was a lucky showing from Clemson in the single game simulation!

Winner’s Next Matchup: Winner of (2) Iowa State vs. (3) Texas

Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Iowa State vs. (3) Texas

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, UCF, Washington State, Pittsburgh, Oregon State, Florida State, BaylorNC State, Louisiana, Ole MissMichigan State, Auburn, SMU, Wake Forest, Miami, Western Kentucky, Purdue, Arizona State, Hawaii, Kentucky, Kent State, Kansas State, UCLA, Appalachian State

ROUND 3

Iowa, FloridaOhio State, Mississippi State, Houston, Boise State, Oklahoma State, BYU

REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:

American: 2/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)

ACC: 3/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)

Big 12: 4/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma)

Big Ten: 4/14 (highest remaining: 1. Michigan)

Conference USA: 0/14 (last remaining was No. 6 Western Kentucky, eliminated Day 89)

Independents: 1/7 (highest remaining: 1. Notre Dame)

MAC: 0/12 (last remaining was No. 13 Kent State, eliminated Day 94)

Mountain West: 1/12 (highest remaining: 7. Fresno State)

Pac-12: 2/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)

SEC: 5/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)

Sun Belt: 2/10 (highest remaining: 6. Coastal Carolina)