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 107
(2) Iowa State vs. (3) Texas
How Iowa State Got Here: 26-0 win over (15) Louisiana-Monroe, 42-20 win over (10) California
How Texas Got Here: 44-13 win over (14) Old Dominion, 38-31 win over (6) Western Kentucky
Cyclones running back Breece Hall was the x-factor in this game.
In the first half, Hall ran for 48 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. This was a large reason for Iowa State’s 10-3 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Longhorn defense held Hall to just eight yards on eight carries.
Also, after going just 9-for-20 with 88 yards, Texas quarterback Casey Thompson turned it on in the second half.
He would go 16-for-18 with 203 yards and two touchdowns after halftime.
Thompson’s performance did much to turn the tides in favor of the Longhorns.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson finished with 113 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy was so-so in this one, throwing for 205 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on 28-for-40 passing.
Thanks to winning the second half by a tally of 33-7, Texas storms past the Cyclones by a final score of 36-17.
In 100 simulations, Iowa State won 58 of them by an average margin of 31.9-28.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (1) Clemson
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (2) Cincinnati vs. (6) LSU
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, Baylor, NC State, Louisiana, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Auburn, SMU, Wake Forest, Miami, Western Kentucky, Purdue, Arizona State, Hawaii, Kentucky, Kent State, Kansas State, UCLA, Appalachian State
ROUND 3
Iowa, Florida, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Houston, Boise State, Oklahoma State, BYU, Iowa State
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 2/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 3/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 3/10 (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)
