Photo courtesy of Oklahoma 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 119
(1) Oklahoma vs. (3) Arkansas
How Oklahoma Got Here: 52-7 win over (16) New Mexico, 38-20 win over (8) UAB, 36-21 win over (5) Houston
How Arkansas Got Here: 48-13 win over (14) San Jose State, 48-35 win over (6) SMU, 41-13 win over (7) Fresno State
This one was a back-and-forth game that came down to the wire.
Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson was 17-for-25 with 261 yards and two touchdowns. Not to be outdone, Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams was 23-for-33 with 252 yards and three touchdowns.
Oklahoma receiver Jadon Haselwood had himself a day, accruing five receptions, 108 yards, and a touchdown. Ironically, Haselwood transferred this offseason from Oklahoma to Arkansas.
The biggest difference between these two teams was consistently running the ball and staying ahead of the chains.
Arkansas running back AJ Green led Razorback runners with 65 yards on five carries with a long of 51 yards.
Jefferson rushed for 19 yards on seven carries while Trelon Smith added 50 yards on 16 carries.
In stark contrast was the stat line of Oklahoma’s Kennedy Brooks. Brooks finished with 137 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
Ultimately it was a Brooks touchdown, which came with less than a minute to play, that would seal the deal.
Oklahoma wins in a nail-biter over the Razorbacks. The Sooners advance, 31-28.
In 100 simulations, Oklahoma won 53 of them by an average margin of 27.5-27.2.
Arkansas’ loss means the SEC is now done to two teams remaining — (1) Georgia and (4) Tennessee.
Winner’s Next Matchup: (1) Michigan
Tomorrow’s Matchup: (1) Notre Dame vs. (2) Utah
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, LSU, North Carolina, Fresno State, Wisconsin, Georgia State, Virginia, Memphis
ROUND 4
Penn State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas
REMAINING TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:
American: 1/11 (highest remaining: 2. Cincinnati)
ACC: 1/14 (highest remaining: 1. Clemson)
Big 12: 2/10 (highest remaining: 1. Oklahoma)
Big Ten: 2/14 (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: 0/12 (last remaining was No. 7 Fresno State, eliminated Day 109)
Pac-12: 2/12 (highest remaining: 2. Utah)
SEC: 2/14 (highest remaining: 1. Georgia)
Sun Belt: 0/10 (last remaining was No. 6 Coastal Carolina, eliminated Day 117)