Tag: Bearcats

No. 25 Cincinnati controls path to Big 12 title game, starting vs. Arizona

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 25 Cincinnati controls its destiny, or at least its path to the the Big 12 championship game.

If the Bearcats finish the last three weeks of the regular season with wins against Arizona, BYU and TCU, they’ll be in the conference title game.

The first challenge for Cincinnati (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) is Saturday at home against Arizona (6-3, 3-3).

The Wildcats have won their last two games against Colorado and Kansas after losing in double-overtime at home against BYU and falling short at Houston on a last-second field goal.

Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield is especially concerned about Arizona’s defense.

The Wildcats rank third in the Big 12 in total defense, allowing 302 yards per game. Their pass defense is second in the league at 160.1 yards allowed per game, close behind leader Utah (156.8).

In Cincinnati’s last game before its bye week, the Bearcats lost 45-14 at Utah. Brendan Sorsby struggled, completing 11 of 33 attempts for 221 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“Everybody has to go out and execute at a high level,” Satterfield said. “When you’re playing really good defenses like Arizona’s, you have to execute. If one or two guys are not executing, then you’re going to have a much more difficult time moving the football.

“We’ve seen that from Arizona over this season, they do some great things on defense and shut down a lot of good offenses.”

Arizona coach Brent Brennan is equally impressed with Cincinnati’s offensive execution with Sorsby at quarterback.

Sorsby has the second-highest efficiency rating in the conference at 161.5. Sorsby has completed 144 of 237 pass attempts for 2,064 yards with 21 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

“The quarterback is the best quarterback we’ve seen so far,” Brennan said. “He’s a really, really clean passer, and he’s extremely athletic.

“This is the most team speed I think we’ve seen. … It is what we think is best football team we have played this year.”

Brennan added that Cincinnati receiver Cyrus Allen “is the best receiver we’ve played against.” Allen leads the Big 12 with 10 receiving touchdowns. He has 36 catches for 514 yards, an average of 14.3 yards per reception.

Cincinnati running back Evan Pryor, who missed the Utah game with an ankle injury, is questionable to play against Arizona. Pryor has rushed for 478 yards on 66 carries with three touchdowns.

“We’ll see where we’re at by the end of the week, but he’s making great improvement,” Satterfield said.

Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita enters the game with the opportunity to break the program record for the most career touchdowns in program history. His 67 touchdowns match the record held by Nick Foles and Willie Tuitama.

Fifita has completed 182 of 285 pass attempts this season for 2,200 yards with 23 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Ismail Mahdi leads Arizona in rushing with 597 yards on 88 carries.

Quincy Craig, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, produced the game-winning 24-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds left last week in the 24-20 win over Kansas.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby points to fans as he walks off the field after defeating the Baylor Bears at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

No. 21 Cincinnati extends win streak to 7 with victory over Baylor

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Quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s 23-yard touchdown run with 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter sealed No. 21 Cincinnati’s 41-20 win over visiting Baylor on Saturday.

The Bearcats (7-1, 5-0 Big 12) have won seven straight, and Scott Satterfield has won seven in a row for the first time as a head coach.

Sorsby’s touchdown run capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:21 seconds off the clock. It was a drive that followed Baylor cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 27-20, but Sorsby’s fourth touchdown run of 20-plus yards this season gave the Bearcats a comfortable 34-20 lead.

Baylor’s Kole Wilson then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Jiquan Sanks recovered to give the Bearcats possession at the Bears’ 17-yard line. Sorsby this time connected through the air, finding Isaiah Johnson for an 8-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 41-20 with 4:26 left to play.

Sorsby finished 13-of-21 passing for 111 yards and two touchdown passes, while adding 85 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

The Bearcats finished with 265 rushing yards on 50 carries, while holding the Bears to just 129 yards on the ground and 266 yards total. Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson was held well below his season averages, finishing just 18-of-26 passing for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Cincinnati got off to a hot start, scoring on four of its first five drives to build a 24-0 lead. Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor each had a rushing touchdown in the first quarter, and Cyrus Allen had his fourth receiving touchdown in the Bearcats’ last two games in the second quarter.

Baylor (4-4, 2-3) struggled to generate any sustainable momentum in the first half, punting on its first two possessions before turning the ball over on downs and fumbling on its next two drives.

The Bears followed those first drives with three straight scoring drives to turn a 24-0 deficit into a 27-20 game early in the fourth quarter. Michael Trigg and Josh Cameron caught TDs from Robertson, who rushed for a 1-yard score to bring Baylor within seven.

The Bears are home next Saturday to face UCF.

Cincinnati travels to face Utah next Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2025; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) behind the line during the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Steady QB Brendan Sorsby leads No. 24 Cincinnati to rout of Oklahoma State

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The No. 24 Cincinnati Bearcats clinched bowl eligibility Saturday night with a 49-17 road win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

It’s Cincinnati’s first time being bowl eligible since 2022, and it’s the first time Cincinnati (6-1, 4-0 Big 12) is eligible for a bowl game as members of the Big 12 and in head coach Scott Satterfield’s tenure.

Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby played mistake-free football Saturday night, as he has much of the season, completing 20 of 29 passes for 270 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He added a rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Sorsby spread the ball around to nine different Bearcats receivers, with tight end Joe Royer and wide receiver Noah Jennings leading the way with 63 receiving yards each.

Wide receiver Cyrus Allen had two touchdowns through the air, while adding a 14-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.

Defensively, it was cornerback Matthew McDoom with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown to give the Bearcats a 42-17 lead with just over six minutes to play. It was the Bearcats’ first interception and non-offensive touchdown all season.

Oklahoma State (1-6, 0-4 Big 12) was undone by costly penalties and an inability to convert on fourth down.

Cowboys quarterback Sam Jackson V passed for 149 yards, and running back Rodney Fields Jr. rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

After pulling within 28-17 in the third quarter, the Cowboys were outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter. Despite rushing for 228 yards on 48 carries and possessing the ball for nearly 37 minutes, two turnovers in the fourth quarter shut the door on a potential upset.

The Bearcats are one of two undefeated teams in the Big 12 in conference play, with the other team being the BYU Cougars.

Cincinnati is back home next Saturday to face the Baylor Bears. Oklahoma State hits the road to face the No. 7 Texas Tech Red Raiders.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman (20) tackles Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) in the first quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Iowa State Cyclones at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Oct. 4, 2025.

Cincinnati hands No. 14 Iowa State first loss

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Brendan Sorsby’s 82-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Goodie with 5:57 to play extended host Cincinnati’s lead to 16 points over No. 14 Iowa State, and the Bearcats held on to win the Big 12 Conference game 38-30 on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their first defeat of the season.

Cincinnati raised its record to 4-1 and 2-0, while Iowa State fell to 5-1, 2-1.

The 82-yard TD was the Bearcats’ longest play since 2015, and it sealed the team’s first win over a ranked team in Scott Satterfield’s 29 games as head coach. The play gave Cincinnati a 38-22 lead. Iowa State completed the scoring on a 3-yard pass from Rocco Becht to Chase Sowell with 1:56 left.

Becht finished 30 of 48 for 314 yards and two touchdowns, and Sorsby went 13 of 25 for 214 yards and two TDs for Cincinnati, while teammate Evan Pryor rushed for a team-high 111 yards on 10 tries.

After scoring 31 points in the first half, in which the team’s lead was as large as 31-7, the Bearcats’ defense took over in the second half when the offense stalled.

Before Sorsby’s 82-yard touchdown pass, the Bearcats’ defense stopped the Cyclones on fourth-and-1 from their 16-yard line with 7:40 remaining in the game. It was one of three fourth-down stops for the Bearcats in the game.

Offensively, the Bearcats rushed for 260 yards and had 474 total yards. Sorsby added nine rushes for 64 yards and touchdown.

The Cyclones also had over 400 yards of offense (470), with quarterback Becht adding two touchdowns on the ground.

In the second half, both sidelines and head coaches were visibly upset and charged the field as penalties piled up. Cincinnati wound up with 128 yards in penalties and Iowa State 60.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the third quarter, while Cincinnati’s bench received a sideline warning in the first half.

On a Bearcats drive in the fourth quarter, three Bearcats plays that went for first downs and at least 19 yards, in a span of five plays, were called back due to offensive penalties. To cap it off, the Bearcats were called for illegal formation on a punt attempt.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones football head coach Matt Campbell celebrates with team after scoring a touchdown against Arizona during the third quarter in the Big-12 conference showdown on Sept. 27, 2025, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.

Cincinnati out to prove its Big 12 candidacy vs. unbeaten No. 14 Iowa State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield didn’t mince words following the team’s 37-34 victory Saturday at Kansas, telling sideline reporter Lauren Jbara that the Bearcats are here for the Big 12.

Saturday’s win was the type that largely eluded the Bearcats in their first two seasons as a member of the Big 12, during which they posted a 2-7 road record in league games. Finding a way to win that kind of game — the Bearcats drove 75 yards in 1:16 to score the winning touchdown with 29 seconds left — could be what springboards them to reach their lofty goals.

Satterfield and the players haven’t been shy about their aspirations of playing in the Big 12 championship game this season. In a conference that is wide open heading into October, Cincinnati can make an even bigger statement during Saturday’s showdown with visiting No. 14 Iowa State.

If the Bearcats (3-1, 1-0 in Big 12) are going to contend this season, it will be because of ascending quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The Bearcats’ junior is coming off his second Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week of the season — earned because he threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 52 yards on the ground, in Cincinnati’s win at Kansas.

Sorsby led the Bearcats on the game-winning touchdown drive that included an 18-yard pass to convert a fourth-and-10.

“That drive was awesome, and there was a little bit of adversity there like the rest of the game, but we found a way to persevere and come out on top,” Sorsby said. “We’ve been in so many close games since I’ve been here and it felt good to win one of them.”

Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) has been where Cincinnati aims to go. Head coach Matt Campbell has led the Cyclones to two title games (2020, 2024) while building them into one of the Big 12’s most consistent programs now that Texas and Oklahoma are in the SEC — and Iowa State has the makings of a team that could make a return trip to Dallas in December.

Leading the Cyclones is quarterback Rocco Becht, who has 1,103 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He threw for 240 yards in the Cyclones’ 39-14 win over Arizona last week.

While Becht lost two standout receivers off last year’s team to the NFL, Iowa State has replaced that production admirably with myriad weapons in the passing game. Most recently, East Carolina transfer Chase Sowell went off for a career-high 146 receiving yards in the Arizona game.

“I thought we played really good, complementary football,” Campbell said. “We played the game in the rhythm that we would want to play in for the majority of the night.”

Iowa State’s secondary, on the other hand, has been dealt blows in back-to-back games. The Cyclones lost cornerback Jeremiah Cooper to a season-ending knee injury last week and Campbell announced Tuesday that cornerback Jontez Williams also will miss the rest of the year due to a knee injury suffered against Arizona. Both were preseason All-Big 12 selections.

This could be an opportunity for Cincinnati’s receivers to continue the strides they’ve made since their season opener.

Cincinnati’s leading receiver is Cyrus Allen, who has 23 receptions for 273 yards and five touchdowns. The Bearcats have three more receivers with at least 10 catches and 150 receiving yards through four games.

This is the third straight season the Bearcats and Cyclones have played. Iowa State has won the previous two meetings by an average of 18.5 points per game — the only games between the two schools.

–Field Level Media

Jul 22, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Nebraska, Cincinnati to square off in key opening matchup

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Nebraska and Cincinnati will meet Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., in the only Power Four matchup of the day.

Coming off a season in which they played in a bowl game for the first time since 2016, the Cornhuskers enter their third season under head coach Matt Rhule — who has had success in his third seasons in his previous head coaching stints at Temple and Baylor, going 10-4 and 11-3, respectively.

Now he’s looking to replicate his success at Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers’ campus in Lincoln, Neb., is just 209 miles from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium, and defensive coordinator John Butler said he feels like the crowd will favor his team Thursday night. But he had a caution for his players.

“You’re playing game No. 1, you’re playing in a pro stadium — don’t make it bigger than it is,” Butler said. “A lot of guys have played in an elite venue here at Memorial Stadium, so it’s similar, but just do what we’ve practiced to do. Don’t lose your minds. Play with energy and enthusiasm, but don’t make it bigger than it is.”

Quarterback Dylan Raiola is entering his second season at Nebraska, coming off a freshman year in which he threw for 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He finished with 2,819 yards passing.

The Bearcats’ Scott Satterfield is also entering his third season at the helm of his program. Through his first two seasons, Cincinnati’s first two in the Big 12, the team’s record is just 8-16 overall and 4-14 in the conference.

The Bearcats finished 5-7 overall last season, while Nebraska was 7-6.

Like Raiola, Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby is entering his second season with his team. He had a strong first half of 2024, then fizzled as Cincinnati lost its last five games following a 5-2 start.

“Obviously, (those last five games) weren’t up to the standard I would like to play at,” said Sorsby, who finished last season with 2,813 yards passing. “I think the experience I got from last year in the system will be a huge benefit going into this year.”

Cincinnati is looking to start 1-0 for the third straight season.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) dives for a touchdown as Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Xavion Alford (2) and Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (44) attempt to stop him in the first quarter of the College Football game at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

First-half scoring burst carries Cincinnati past Arizona State 24-14

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Brendan Sorsby had a pair of rushing touchdowns as Cincinnati scored 24 unanswered first-half points in a 24-14 win over visiting Arizona State in a Big 12 matchup Saturday afternoon at Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sorsby, was 23-of-31 passing for 206 yards with an interception for the Bearcats (5-2, 2-1 Big 12), while also rushing seven times for 26 yards.

Corey Kiner rushed 22 times for 99 yards for Cincinnati and eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards for his career. Xzavier Henderson caught eight passes for 67 yards.

Cam Skattebo carried 17 times for 75 yards with two TD for the Sun Devils (5-2, 2-2), who are in their debut Big 12 season and saw their two-game conference winning streak come to an end.

Arizona State quarterback Jeff Sims was 12 of 23 for 155 yards, while Jordyn Tyson had six receptions for 108 yards.

The Sun Devils put together an impressive six-play, 66-yard drive on their first series after forcing a Cincinnati punt. Sims led the offense to the 2-yard line before Skattebo took a pitch, danced by a defender and cashed in with the first score at 10:35.

The defense did its part again on the next series as Keith Abney II picked off Sorsby, but the Bearcats’ Kameron Wilson recovered a Skattebo fumble. Sorsby then dashed 14 yards to tie the score 7-all.

Nathan Hawks’ 46-yard field goal with 2:18 remaining in the first quarter gave Cincinnati its first lead.

Less than four minutes into the second quarter, Evan Pryor pushed the advantage to 17-7 by blazing away on a 55-yard TD run as Cincinnati. Sorsby rounded out the first-half scoring on a TD run from 1 yard out for a 24-7 lead with just under two minutes remaining before the half.

The Bearcats led 274-138 in total first-half yardage and had 148-56 advantage in yards passing.

The Sun Devils went 74 yards in eight plays late in the third quarter to get a 1-yard TD run from Skattebo, cutting the deficit to 24-14.

Arizona State attempted to make it a one-score game inside the final six minutes, but Ian Hershey missed field goals from 48 and 41 yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) hurdles Cincinnati Bearcats defensive safety Trevon Gola-Callard (6) for a touchdown in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Texas Tech outlasts Cincinnati in 44-41 shootout

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Two teams with high-powered offenses and shaky defenses got together Saturday in Lubbock, Texas, and the back-and-forth result was predictable.

Texas Tech outlasted Cincinnati 44-41, with some fourth-quarter breathing room created by a defensive touchdown proving to be just enough.

After forcing the first Red Raiders punt of the game, the Bearcats took possession with 1:50 to go in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati drove to the Texas Tech 32-yard line, but Nathan Hawks was wide right on a 51-yard field goal as time expired.

The Red Raiders (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) scored on all but two offensive possessions and stole a touchdown on A.J. McCarty’s 51-yard pick-six for a 41-27 cushion with 12:40 to play.

The Bearcats (3-2, 1-1) answered quickly when Manny Covey, in the game after injuries to Cincinnati’s first two running backs, grabbed a screen pass and wiggled loose for a 71-yard touchdown.

Texas Tech pushed the lead to 44-34 on Gino Garcia’s 27-yard field goal at the 7:50 mark. But the Bearcats responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that Covey capped with a 3-yard touchdown catch from Brendan Sorsby with 3:24 on the clock.

Prior to the game-changing defensive score, the teams went back-and-forth in a game that was tied 24-24 at halftime.

The Red Raiders converted a Cincinnati fumble into a 31-24 before seizing its first two-score cushion on McCarty’s interception.

Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks dissected the Bearcats’ defense for 172 yards on 32 carries and reached the end zone twice, part of a 482-total yard night for the Red Raiders. Quarterback Behren Morton completed 19 of 29 throws for 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Sorsby shined in defeat with 426 yards and four touchdowns on 31-of-45 passing. His interception to McCarty was his first this season.

Sorsby also led Cincinnati with 52 rushing yards to help the Bearcats rack up 555 yards.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) throws a touchdown pass in the first quarter of the College Football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Towson Tigers at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.

Miami (OH) out to retain upper hand vs. rival Cincinnati

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For the first time since 2006, Miami (OH) enters its rivalry game against visiting Cincinnati with the Victory Bell in their possession.

The Redhawks (0-1) will try to hold onto the prized trophy over consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003 when they won their third straight over the Bearcats (1-1).

The series is deadlocked, with each team holding 60 wins and seven ties heading into Saturday’s game at Oxford, Ohio.

The long, storied rivalry that dates to 1888 could end with the 2026 game, as both schools canceled all future games on campus, including 2025 at Cincinnati. The 2026 contest is scheduled for Paycor Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, and this week’s game is the final matchup scheduled for Miami’s campus.

Last year, the Redhawks rallied to tie the game at 24-all, then won 31-24 in overtime after ending regulation with a block on a 35-yard field goal attempt from Bearcats kicker Carter Brown. The win snapped Cincinnati’s 16-game win streak in the matchup.

This year, both teams enter the game off losses. Miami fell at Northwestern 13-6 on Aug. 31. Cincinnati opened with a 38-20 home win over Towson before blowing a 27-6 third-quarter lead and losing 28-27 to visiting Pitt last Saturday.

“Right after the game, there was so much positivity up there already, even after a hard loss like that,” Bearcats center Gavin Gerhardt said. “And I think myself and a lot of guys have taken pride in and not allowing what happened last year in our program, the poutiness and whatnot, to happen anymore.

“This is a big rivalry game for us. And I think a lot of us older guys and the guys that have been here and have played Miami before last season even are taking a lot of pride in bringing that Bell back to Cincinnati. So that’s a big game for us. We’re not worried about Houston (next Saturday) at all. We’re worried about Miami.”

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, a transfer from Indiana, has thrown five touchdowns and run for two scores in the first two games.

“They’ve got a ton of new players, a ton of new transfers offensively. They rolled up (658) yards against Towson, and the quarterback they’ve got, he’s really athletic,” Miami head coach Chuck Martin said. “He’s got a rifle arm. This guy can throw it, make all the throws. They’ve got a lot of different ways to attack you in the run game and then throw the ball over your head defensively.”

–Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Panthers kicker Ben Sauls hits a field goal to give Pittsburgh Panthers a 1 point lead over Cincinnati Bearcats with less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter of the College Football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

Pitt storms back to edge Cincinnati

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Ben Sauls converted a 35-yard field goal with 17 seconds left to cap a dramatic 22-point comeback and lift the visiting Pittsburgh Panthers to a stunning 28-27 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats in the “River City Rivalry” on Saturday.

It was Pitt’s largest comeback since Oct. 9, 1971, when they trailed Navy 35-10 at halftime and rallied for a 36-35 win.

The Bearcats (1-1) built a 27-6 lead before a furious fourth-quarter charge from the Panthers (2-0), who were led by Desmond Reid. The running back had 148 yards on 19 carries and six catches for 106 yards, including a 56-yard catch-and-run score over the middle that trimmed the Pitt deficit to 27-25 with 5:40 remaining in regulation.

Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein was 20 of 35 for 302 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He connected with Konata Mumpfield on five receptions for 123 yards and two scores.

Brendan Sorsby threw three touchdown passes and finished 22 of 38 for 298 yards while Corey Kiner ran for 149 yards on 20 carries to lead Cincinnati.

The Bearcats had a chance to seal the game with a defensive stop on third-and-4 from the Pittsburgh 26, but delay of game was called on defensive lineman Kam Wilson, giving the Panthers new life.

Pitt drove to the Cincinnati 17, where Sauls made his third field goal of the game to put the Panthers ahead for the first time with 17 seconds left.

After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Sorsby completed one pass for 6 yards, then was sacked by Nate Matlack. On the game’s final play, Sorsby completed a pass to Kiner for eight yards and his fumble was recovered by Javon McIntyre.

The game featured the return of Cincinnati standout nose tackle Dontay Corleone, who was sidelined this summer with blood clots in his lungs. He alternated defensive series in the first half as his snap count and game conditioning was closely monitored.

Corleone made a big stop for no gain on third down in the fourth quarter before Pitt made it a one-score game on the next play, a 38-yard Holstein-to-Mumpfield touchdown strike on fourth-and-3 with 10:41 left in the fourth.

After a Cincinnati punt on the opening series, the Panthers drove down the field to the Cincinnati 26. On second-and-7, Holstein threw a pass down the seam that was picked off in the end zone by Josh Minkins.

Cincinnati stopped Pitt on the opening drive of the second half, allowing Sorsby to march the Bearcats 58 yards in 10 plays, capped off by a 16-yard pass over the middle to Ohio State transfer tight end Joe Royer.

The Bearcats led 24-6 and made it 27-6 with 4:50 left in the third quarter on Carter Brown’s second field goal of the day from 26 yards.

–Field Level Media