The 2024 college football season is set to be a wild ride, with reshaped conferences, star players on new teams via the transfer portal, and an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Predicting the outcome is tougher than ever, but EA Sports' College Football 25 offers a glimpse into the future.

Using the game's "Dynasty Mode" feature, our team at FOX Sports Digital ran 50 simulations of the 2024 season. By using default settings and choosing lower-tier teams from Group of 5 conferences, we ensured the results were as unbiased and realistic as possible. We skipped through the regular season to identify Heisman Trophy winners, conference champions, and CFP contenders, then simulated the CFP to find the national champion.

National Champions

If the simulations are accurate, 2024 will be the year of the Oregon Ducks. Oregon clinched the national title in 18 out of 50 simulations, dominating their first Big Ten season. Michigan followed with seven titles, and Ohio State secured five, making the Big Ten the standout conference with 30 national titles.

In contrast, the SEC only accounted for eight national titles. Georgia claimed four, but high-ranking teams like Texas and Alabama failed to secure any championships. Alabama, despite making the 12-team playoff in 30 simulations, could not win a title.

Power 4 Conference Champions

Oregon's success extended to the Big Ten, where they won 27 conference titles. Ohio State secured 12 titles, and Michigan won six. Surprisingly, Penn State and USC, both highly regarded, failed to win any Big Ten titles. Maryland, Nebraska, and Purdue managed to snag a few titles each.

In the SEC, Alabama led with 15 titles, followed by Georgia with 12. Texas A&M, ranked No. 25 in Joel Klatt's preseason Top 25, won the conference seven times, a surprising third-most.

Utah, the preseason Big 12 favorite, dominated with 13 titles. Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Colorado followed with fewer titles.

The ACC was highly unpredictable. Clemson won 12 titles, Miami 11, and NC State nine. Florida State and Boston College each won five titles, with Boston College even claiming a national championship once.

Playoff Berths

Seventy teams made the playoff, from Oregon's 45 berths to long shots like Central Michigan and Jacksonville State. Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, and Alabama were the most frequent participants. Tulane was the only Group of 5 team to consistently make the playoff, achieving 10 berths.

Notably absent were TCU and Washington, each with just one playoff appearance. Iowa, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Maryland had more playoff appearances than Missouri and Tennessee, despite their higher preseason rankings.

Best Team: Oregon

Oregon was the top team in College Football 25, dominating in national titles, conference championships, and playoff berths. Led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the Ducks secured 45 playoff berths and achieved the No. 1 overall seed 21 times. Even in seasons without a title, Oregon was often eliminated in close games late in the playoffs. With nearly every player on Oregon's roster opting into the game, the Ducks' real-life talent was well-represented.

Biggest Surprise: NC State

NC State emerged as a surprising powerhouse, making the playoffs 22 times, winning the ACC 11 times, reaching the national championship four times, and winning twice. Quarterback Grayson McCall, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, won the Heisman three times, while receiver Dacari Collins also won the Heisman once.

Biggest Disappointments: Texas and Ole Miss

Texas, despite high expectations, was underwhelming in the simulations. The Longhorns made the playoff 14 times, but never won a national title. Ole Miss, ranked No. 5, made the playoffs nine times but won one national title.

Heisman Trophy Results

Ohio State's Will Howard led the Heisman winners with eight trophies, followed by Alabama's Jalen Milroe with seven. Georgia's Carson Beck and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel each won four. NC State's Grayson McCall won three Heismans, tying with Clemson's Cade Klubnik and Arizona's wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, showing a diverse range of winners. Baylor's Ketron Jackson Jr. also won the Heisman, despite the Bears not making the playoff.

In conclusion, College Football 25 simulations revealed potential surprises and dominant performances for the 2024 season. Oregon's dominance, NC State's unexpected success, and the underperformance of teams like Texas and Ole Miss were among the key insights from our simulations. Collecting College Football 25 Coins within the game also enhanced our experience, adding a layer of strategy and reward as we navigated through the virtual season.

MMOexp College Football 25 Team