SHOCKING ESPN REPORT: CFB26 Predicts Ohio State’s 2025 Season
As the 2025 college football season looms just weeks away, fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes are buzzing with anticipation—and College Football 26 (CFB26), the popular video game simulation, has just added fuel to that excitement. The game’s newly released season predictions have placed Ohio State at the heart of this year’s national championship conversation.
According to the CFB26 simulation, Ohio State is poised for a dominant run through the regular season, finishing with an impressive 11-1 record. The only loss in the simulated season comes in a tight contest against Penn State on the road, a game that’s long been circled on calendars as a potential stumbling block for the Buckeyes. Despite the setback, Ohio State’s predicted performance is strong enough to earn them a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game—where they take revenge on the Nittany Lions and punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff.
The simulation has quarterback Devin Brown emerging as one of the nation’s top signal-callers, throwing for over 3,800 yards and 35 touchdowns. Brown’s chemistry with star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is also highlighted, with Smith hauling in 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in what many predict will be his breakout sophomore campaign.
CFB26’s engine also forecasts a much-improved Buckeye defense under new defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann. After a string of seasons where Ohio State’s defense occasionally lagged behind its high-octane offense, the simulation paints a picture of a more balanced squad in 2025. Sophomore linebacker Sonny Styles is projected to have an All-American caliber year, while transfer cornerback Jahlil Hurley leads a revamped secondary.
Notably, CFB26 has Ohio State finishing the season ranked No. 3 nationally heading into the playoff, setting up a semifinal matchup with No. 2 Georgia. In a thrilling virtual showdown, the Buckeyes edge out the Bulldogs 31-28 thanks to a last-minute field goal and a clutch interception by Styles. The simulation then pits Ohio State against Alabama in the national title game, a rematch of their historic 2015 semifinal meeting. This time, the Crimson Tide get the better of the Buckeyes, pulling off a narrow 34-30 win in a game that’s already generating virtual buzz among fans.
While video game simulations can never fully predict the chaos of college football, CFB26’s algorithm is grounded in up-to-date rosters, real-life statistics, and coaching tendencies. It’s often used by fans and analysts alike as a fun yet insightful look into the season ahead. For Ohio State supporters, the projection offers both hope and heartbreak—a season of dominance and playoff redemption that ends just shy of the ultimate goal.
Still, if the simulation’s accuracy holds true, 2025 could be a season to remember in Columbus. With elite talent on both sides of the ball and a renewed sense of purpose after recent near-misses, the Buckeyes look ready to reclaim their spot atop the college football world.
As always, the games still need to be played, but CFB26 has cast its vote: Ohio State is back, and the road to the national title runs through the Horseshoe.
