Alabama football plays to standard against Missouri on EA Sports CFB 25 simulation

The fun thing about video games is they can provide an escape from reality. The virtual world can be contorted almost to exactly how you want things to be. In this instance, Alabama football played to its long forgotten standard against the Missouri Tigers in this EA Sports CFB25 simulation.

In the video game, there's no music in practice. There are no team meetings for players to be late for. And as advanced as the graphics are, they haven't gotten around to painted fingernails yet.

Instead, the little characters just go out there and play football, sometimes ridiculously, but that's true on most college football Saturdays, too.

Will Alabama football play up to a standard again on Saturday against Missouri? Who knows, but at least the virtual world showed me what it would like if they did.

Alabama took the opening drive against Missouri and marched straight down the field to score a touchdown. Jalen Milroe hit Ryan Williams, who just received a well-earned ratings boost, for a 17 yard touchdown.

Alabama's defense got a quick stop, thanks to a sack on third down by Deontae Lawson. The Tide's offense wasted little time with Jam Miller punctuating a nice drive with a 1 yard touchdown run to put Alabama up 14-0.

Missouri moved the ball a little on its next drive, but at the beginning of the second quarter Malachi Moore intercepted Drew Pyne to end the threat. Alabama wasn't able to get a touchdown off the turnover, but at least turned it into some points unlike last week. Graham Nicholson connected on a 37 yard field goal to give Alabama a 17-0 advantage.

The Tigers added a field goal, but Alabama finished the half with another strong drive and a 1 yard touchdown by Jalen Milroe to take a 24-3 lead at halftime.

The second half brought little anxiety for the Crimon Tide, a welcomed change for the Bryant-Denny faithful. Ryan Williams scored his second touchdown of the night, this one on a 61 yard catch and run off of a Milroe throw to put the lead at 31-3.

Missouri had its best drive of the game and Pyne hit Luther Burden for a 7 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 31-10. But Alabama finished the game with a long, sustained drive in the fourth quarter with Justice Haynes scoring a touchdown from 3 yards out to put the finishing touches on a 38-10 Alabama victory.

Milroe completed 14-of-19 passing for 244 yards and the two touchdowns to Williams. He rushed for 39 yards on 7 attempts as well. Miller and Haynes combined for 24 carries for 140 yards, letting you know for sure that this is just a video game, had you forgotten.

Williams was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 129 yards and the 2 touchdowns. Kendrick Law was next in line with 3 catches for 52 yards.

Defensively, Lawson led the charge with 8 tackles and a sack. LT Overton, Jihaad Campbell, and Qua Russaw added sacks as well as the Crimson Tide terrorized Missouri backup QB Drew Pyne. He finished the game with just 9 completions on 23 attempts for 77 yards and an interception.

All Alabama fans would sign on the dotted line for this kind of performance in Tuscaloosa on Saturday afternoon, though confidence is waning that we will see that version of the Tide again this season.