I have to agree with you, especially when it comes to a specific run play. Most run plays are simple man-on-man, numerical advantage plays.
Pass plays are different, most pass plays that "cheesers" run over and over and over are either routes that are "broken" as far as coverage goes, or they throw their #1 WR at #3-5 and make sure they match them up on your MLB or something.
If you think running "smashmouth" football is cheesing (60% is not that bad), then what do you think Navy or mid 80's-90's Nebraska was? Heck what do you think Wisconsin is these days? They run basically the same few run plays over and over and over. (directed towards 1GATOR FAN)
Running is pretty simplistic as far as "schemes" go, and considering NCAA has like 80 plays per playbook, and 1/3 of them are the same plays in different formations, while another 1/3 are totally garbage(play action I'm looking at you!), you're left with like 20 or so effective plays... and when it comes to running the ball, there isnt much variety.
I like running A LOT of the same formation (I-form/variants) simply because you have NO idea if I'm running or passing, and if you stack the run I audible to pass, and if you play 2 deep safeties (no 8th man in the box) I'm changing the play to HB smash/off tackle and getting 3-5 yards pretty much everytime.
I assume the guy he's playing has likely recruited good run blocking O-lineman and likely has a solid RB as well. College football is a lot more unbalanced than the NFL, and most people's idea of "sim football" doesnt apply.
College is all about "we're gonna do this until you show us you can stop it."
***Onto the topic of the OP***
- I should have also mentioned the pre-play run keys like a couple guys after me mentioned. I think if you do as I instructed first combined with the pre-play run keying to the strongside (assuming he's always running strongside) you'll have pretty good success I think, so long as you have decent talent on defense and you're not just getting overpowered by better athletes.
The preplay keying really does help, as your CPU controlled defenders make much better reactions and a lot quicker.