Note: With EA Sports’ College Football 25 bringing college football back into the gaming world, Deseret News is simulating every Utah State game against an FBS opponent this season.

Utah State is back in action after a bye week.

Can a little time off — and a win before that — help reinvigorate the Aggies as they head to No. 21 Washington State?

Time will tell when the two teams face off on Saturday night.

The Deseret News aired a simulation of Saturday’s game on the EA Sports College Football 25 video game, and the video game favored Utah State by setting up a contest for the Cougars.

How the simulation was set up

There were a few ground rules in place: the simulation used 12-minute quarters, and I let the computer simulate the game without user interference.

CPU ratings were also adjusted slightly from standard to make pass defense more realistic: I adjusted pass accuracy from 50 to 35, then adjusted pass defense ratings from 50 to 80.

Injuries and depth chart changes have also been implemented.

The Aggies are without star receiver Jalen Royals for the remainder of the season, and they still have several players on the defensive line who were held out of the simulation.

I also matched the uniform combos we’ll see in the game as best I could.

Utah State is opting for blue helmets with a blue face mask (which was not available in the video game), as well as white jerseys and pants.

Washington State, meanwhile, wears its red helmet, as well as charcoal jerseys and pants.

How accurate was the simulation of Utah State’s last game?

The actual score: Utah State 27, Wyoming 25

College Football 25 simulation final score: Utah State 38, Wyoming 21

My analysis: The simulation accurately predicted that Utah State would beat Wyoming and end its six-game losing streak, although it was closer than the video game predicted.

In real life, the Aggies used a 40-yard Tanner Cragun field goal as time expired to beat the Cowboys.

In the simulation, Utah State led by 24 points at halftime to claim the victory.

How did the simulation between Utah State and Washington State go?

Final score: Utah State 43, Washington State 39

Key sequence: By the end of the first quarter, the Aggies were down 10-3 and it looked like Washington State was gaining momentum and threatening to blow the game away.

That’s when Avante Dickerson stepped in front of a John Mateer pass and returned it 36 ​​yards for a pick-six, one play after the Cougars completed a 16-yard pass to launch a drive.

That made the score 10-10 early in the second quarter, and the Aggies were in the contest the rest of the way.

How the simulation went: This game played out throughout the afternoon, as the Aggies managed to hang on to their ranked opponent during a strong second quarter for Washington State.

Utah State took its opening drive 63 yards before scoring on a 40-yard field goal midway through the first quarter.

Washington State had an answer, as Kris Hutson caught a 19-yard touchdown pass three minutes later to make it 7-3 for the Cougars.

On the next play of the ensuing drive, Utah State’s Spencer Petras lost a fumble at the Aggies 6. Utah State, however, held the Cougars to a field goal and trailed 10-3.

Dickerson’s pick six with 12 seconds left in the first quarter made it 10-10 heading into the second quarter.

Hutson quickly responded again for Washington State, catching a short pass before running 76 yards for a touchdown that gave the Cougars a 17-10 lead in what ended up being a 38-point second quarter. total.

Utah State scored with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Kyrese White when Petras had several seconds from his offensive line to find White, who then weaved his way through three defenders on the goal line to score.

The Aggies then took the lead when Mateer threw his third interception of the first half, as Cian Slone picked him off at the Washington State 30. Four plays later, Rahsul Faison scored on a 3-yard run to make the score 24-17 Aggies.

The Cougars again had a quick response, as Josh Meredith caught a 55-yard touchdown pass to tie the score five minutes before halftime.

After a Utah State third-down, Hutson capped another drive with a 13-yard touchdown run to give the Cougars a 31-24 lead.

The Aggies, however, moved the ball quickly downfield and added a 30-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

Utah State regained the lead in the third quarter.

On the first drive of the second half, the Aggies were aided by a 46-yard catch from Otto Tia and reached the Washington State 1 before Petras was sacked on third-and-goal, leading to a field goal 25 yards. It was 31-30, Washington State.

Washington State then went three-and-out and White had a 45-yard catch and run to bring the Aggies back into Cougars territory. Faison capped another long USU drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, although Utah State failed to convert a two-point conversion and led 36-31 with 5:31 left in the third quarter.

Utah State took the lead in the fourth quarter, as the Cougars’ offense bogged down until the opening minutes of the final period.

The Cougars converted a second-and-18 to reach the Aggies 6, then Andre Dollar caught a 7-yard pass on third-and-goal with 8:53 left. Washington State added a two-point conversion, and it was 39-36 for the Cougars.

Both teams then had quick, empty possessions, which paved the way for Utah State to win.

Faison ripped off a 15-yard run to the Washington State 1, then was spelled by Herschel Turner, who scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 4-yard run on second-and-goal. It capped a 12-play, 67-yard drive and allowed Utah State to regain the lead with just 3:54 remaining.

On the ensuing Washington State possession, the Cougars were forced to punt after Gabriel Iniguez Jr. sacked Mateer on third down.

The Aggies then managed to run out the clock, converting a third down with an 18-yard pass to White, followed by Faison breaking off an 8-yard run moments later to move the ball inside the 10.

This play forced Washington State to call its final timeout, and the Aggies had three knees to end the upset.

Star players: Petras was nothing short of brilliant, throwing for 502 yards and a touchdown.

Three of his receivers had 100 yards receiving – White had 10 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown, Jack Hestera had nine catches for 120 yards and Tia added nine catches for 109 yards.

Faison ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.

Blaine Spiers also had two sacks, three tackles for loss and eight tackles for the Aggies.

Mateer threw for 454 yards and five touchdowns, but his three interceptions cost the Cougars.

His main target was Hutson, who had nine catches for 185 yards and three touchdowns.

Key stats: The Aggies won the turnover battle, three to one.

Utah State also held a 583–482 advantage in total yards and was 10 of 23 on third downs, while Washington State was just 5 of 18.

How realistic was the simulation?

My analysis: This would be an exciting way for Utah State to open the final month of play – although realistically it seems like the Aggies could pull off an upset, especially on the road.

While it’s credible that Utah State could have a solid offensive day in Pullman, Wash., it would be a surprise if the Aggies’ defense held down the Cougars’ offense like it did in the second half of the simulation .