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After four plays that gained either four or five yards, Chance Williams ran 16 yards to the Bearcats’ 45-yard line. One play later, Brendan Sorsby threw a 47-yard pass right into the chest of Sterling Berkhalter to the Houston 8-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Sorsby ran for the eight-yard touchdown.
Houston’s offense finally got going early in the second half and the Cougars managed 64 yards in five plays before losing the ball. The ball was picked up by UC and the Bearcats will start at their own 11-yard line.
It was a strong, complementary half for the Bearcats in their first Big 12 game of the year.
On offense, Brendan Sorsby has completed 10 of 11 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Roger Bacon alum Corey Kiner has rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Xzavier Henderson has caught two passes for 34 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and Elder alum Joe Royer has two catches for 31 yards.
On defense, the Bearcats allowed just six first downs and 109 yards. An interception by Josh Minkins in the first quarter allowed the first UC touchdown.
The Bearcats’ drive stalled on fourth-and-4 at the Houston 28-yard line and Nathan Hawks sank a 46-yard pass to increase UC’s lead to 24.
Cincinnati forced a three-and-out on Houston’s fourth offensive drive of the day. So far, the Bearcats have limited the Cougars to five first downs and just 88 total yards.
At the end of a 12-play, 80-yard run that lasted more than seven minutes, Brendan Sorsby found Xzavier Henderson on the left side of the end zone. So far today, Sorsby has completed nine of 10 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Houston ran a strong attack down the field, gaining 77 yards in ten plays, but kicker Joseph Kim missed a 32-yard field goal at the end. The Bearcats took over at their own 14-yard line.
Corey Kiner capped a four-play, 80-yard run with a 44-yard touchdown. The run was set up by a 22-yard pass from Brendan Sorsby to Joe Royer to the Houston 44-yard line.
The Cougars picked up two first downs on their second offensive drive of the game, but managed just 13 total yards on nine plays before kicking the ball back to the Bearcats. UC will take over at its own 20-yard line.
Brendan Sorsby completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Xzavier Henderson as he ran down the sideline. Nathan Hawks’ kick made the score 7-0.
Houston quarterback Donovan Smith attempted to throw over the middle on third-and-10, but Bearcat safety Josh Minkins jumped out of the route and caused an interception. The Bearcats took over at the Houston 45-yard line.
UC’s Logan Wilson returned the game’s opening kickoff to the Bearcats’ 26-yard line, but the Bearcats failed to gain a first down on their first drive of the game. Mason Fletcher kicked a 48-yard punt.
As expected, guard Dartanyan Tinsley is out and will likely be replaced by Deondre Buford or Jonathan Harder. On the defensive line, Kamari Burns and Rob Jackson are both out, so there are plenty of options for others to step in. Josh Minkins Jr. is available at safety. Francis Sherman is on board at tight end, so behind Joe Royer, the job could be split between Gavin Grover, Michael McCalmont or Joey Beljan, who is available.
From the battle of the quarterbacks to the hopes of a double-digit catch, here are five things to watch for this afternoon.
Last week, the Bearcats beat the Miami RedHawks 27-16 in front of a sold-out crowd at Yager Stadium in Miami. From UC’s record-setting Division III transfer kicker to Joe Royer’s target share, here are 10 overreactions from the game.
UC coach Scott Satterfield, along with linebacker Jared Bartlett, quarterback Brendan Sorsby and tight end Joe Royer, previewed Houston earlier this week. You can read what they said about the Big 12 opener here.
Conference play begins this week for many Big 12 teams. Check out the other games on the Big 12 schedule today:
Kansas in West Virginia (noon)
Arkansas State vs. Iowa State (2 p.m.)
Arizona State at Texas Tech (3:30 p.m.)
Utah vs. Oklahoma State (4 p.m.)
TCU at SMU (5 p.m.)
Baylor in Colorado (8 p.m.)
Kansas State at BYU (10:30 p.m.)
The star defensive tackle from Colerain is now a Bearcats fan favorite. Here’s where he got his legendary nickname.
Tight end Joe Royer, running back Evan Pryor and safety Kye Stokes are among the Ohio State transfers who have had a big impact on the Bearcats so far this season. Read more about the players and what they have brought to the team here.
Here’s a recap of the Bearcats’ win over Miami in Week 3, along with a game review from Enquirer reporter Scott Springer.
Brendan Sorsby and Donovan Smith are both great quarterbacks
Houston’s Donovan Smith isn’t as old as Miami University’s Brett Gabbert, but he has started games since 2021 and 2022 at Texas Tech and last year and this season at Houston. The school lists him as 6’3″ and 235 pounds, while Cougars coach Willie Fritz described him as 6’5″ to 6’6″. He has six 300-yard passing games and ran for 88 yards against the Bearcats on Nov. 11 of last year in Houston.
Sorsby is 6’3″ and 230 pounds. He ranks No. 17 in the nation with 867 passing yards, 330 more than Smith. Both Sorsby and Smith have scored two rushing touchdowns. Smith’s net yards have suffered from 11 sacks.
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the No. 14 team in total offense, Houston is No. 14 in total defense.
The Bearcats are averaging 502.7 yards per game while Houston is allowing just 238.7. However, the Cougars held the 15th-ranked Sooners to just one safety in the second half and trailed just 14-12 until that safety with 1:42 left in the game. They outscored Oklahoma 318-249.
Cincinnati Bearcats honor James P. Kelly Athletic Hall of Famers on Saturday
Among them are two from the football team: Mardy Gilyard, who was able to turn a game around on his own, and Mike Woods, who was voted into the first team of All-Americans in 1977 and second-round draft pick of the Baltimore Colts.
Watch the Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars football game live on FS1
Score updates for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars
This section will be updated when the game starts.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| HOUSTON | X | X | X | X | — |
| CINCINNATI | X | X | X | X | — |
When is the Cincinnati Bearcats vs Houston Cougars game?
- Date: Saturday, September 21
- Time: Midday
- Where: Nippert Stadium (38,007)
What channel will broadcast the Cincinnati Bearcats vs Houston Cougars game?
Who is commentating on the Cincinnati Bearcats vs Houston Cougars game?
- Move by move: Don Hellie
- analyst: Petros Papdakis
- Live comments on the radio: Daniel Hoard
- Radio analyst: Jim Kelly
- Sideline reporter: Tony Pike
- Host/Technician: Mo Egger
History of the Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars
- Series record: Houston leads 15-14
- Cincinnati’s last win: 2023 (24-14)
- Houston’s last victory: 2016 (40-16)
Predictions for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars
In my preseason picks, I had UC going in at 4-0 because it seemed like a favorable schedule. Most seasons have a loss you didn’t expect and a win that surprises you. Aside from the Pitt implosion, things have gone the way many predicted, so I’m sticking with my original assessment. Houston is probably tougher than many think. The Cougars haven’t run the ball well until their game against Rice, and UC is the No. 28 team in running offense, currently averaging 213.7 yards.
Cincinnati 28, Houston 20
Cincinnati Bearcats vs Houston Cougars betting odds
DraftKings game lines and odds as of Friday:
- Spread: -3 Cincinnati
- Over/Under: 48
- Money line: +130 Houston,,-155 Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars injury report
Left guard Dartanyan Tinsley was questionable at the start of the week, but Phillip Wilder, who started the first two games at right tackle, is expected back. UC could bring Deondre Buford back in at guard or add backup Jonathan Harder. Free safety Josh Minkins Jr. is hoping to return after missing the game against Miami.
Willie Fritz announced this week that several players are out for the year, including offensive lineman Torren El-Coopage, wide receiver Koby Young and left guard Cayden Bowie. In the secondary, Juwon Gaston will miss the first half after being ejected last week for targeting. Corner Latrell McCutchin was also ejected but sat out the second half against Rice.
How to buy tickets for the Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars game
If there are any left, you can find them on SeatGeek.
Weather Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars
According to The Weather Channel, Saturday will be mostly cloudy, becoming partly cloudy early in the morning. Scattered showers are possible. Highs in the 90s.
Cincinnati Bearcats 2024 schedule
- August 31, Towson (win 38–20)
- 7 September, Pitt (N 28-27)
- September 14th at Miami University (W 27-16)
- September 21, Houston
- September 28 at Texas Tech
- October 12 at UCF
- October 19, Arizona State
- October 26 in Colorado
- November 9, West Virginia
- November 16 at Iowa State
- November 23 at Kansas State
- November 30, TCU
Buy Cincinnati Bearcats football tickets at gobearcats.com
Houston Cougars schedule for 2024
- August 31, UNLV (N 27-7)
- September 7th in Oklahoma (N 16-12)
- September 14, Rice (win 33-7)
- September 21 in Cincinnati
- September 28, Iowa State
- October 4 at TCU
- October 19th in Kansas
- October 26, Utah
- November 2, Kansas State
- November 15, Arizona
- November 23, Baylor
- November 30 at BYU
Cincinnati Bearcats football news
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