Big 12 Breakdown and The Big Question For Each School : #13 Cincinnati
By Cade Welty and Sean A Dillon
We’re breaking down the Big 12 as we get closer to the 2026 season. We’re breaking down each team getting closer and closer to #1. Today we look at Cincinnati.
#16 – Iowa State
#15 – Colorado
#14 – Kansas
#13 – Cincinnati
Cincinnati : Is it make or break Scott Satterfield?
For three seasons, Scott Satterfield saw an improvement in Cincinnati’s record, but after 2025, the so-called improvement was skewed. After starting off 7-1 and being ranked 17th in the AP Poll, the Bearcats headed to Provo Utah to take on the #24 Utah Utes. If they won, they would be in firm control of the Big 12 conference. Well, as we know they would drop that game by a score of 45-14, which started the full collapse of losing 5 straight and finishing 7-6.
This is not the only collapse for Satterfield since taking over in Cincinnati, as they would start 5-2 in 2024 then proceed to lose 5 games again in a row to end the season. For the record keepers, Cincinnati football has not won a game past October 25th in two seasons, but they have a 12-3 record leading up to that date. It isn’t all doom and gloom as they have a 12-13 record overall in their last two seasons which looks okay on paper. A winning percentage of 0.071 (1-14 record) after their 7th game of the season is the true issue for Satterfield and Cincinnati.
For comparison Oklahoma State has 4 wins in the same stretch of games (5 final regular season games). The OSU Cowboys have had two straight seasons of not winning a conference game. Cincinnati has won 8 conference games in the same span. Which just speaks volume on how they have struggled to finish games.
Where do you go from there?
Big 12 Media Days:
Well it does not seem like anyone is worried about that trend over in Cincinnati. Head coach Scott Satterfield during Big 12 Media Days brought up the point we led with.
“We are excited about year four in the Big 12. We have improved our record every year.”
Well we can now move onto how the 2026 team will look in August. The biggest bright spot for the Bearcats is returning 3 offensive linemen from one of the nation’s top units in 2025. They have brought the slogan “Pancake With Us” according to Steve Helwick and have branded maple syrup bottles. The offensive line is ready to be considered for the nation’s best in 2026. But first they will need to protect transfer QB JC French from Georgia Southern. French is Georgia Southern’s all time leading passer and was viewed as one of those “Guys” in the portal from Satterfield.
“”We went to the portal trying to find a guy who fits what we want to do. JC was one of those guys.”
Also noted how he fit into the system “For us and our offense, we’ve always had a quarterback that’s able to move around a little bit. I’m excited to see what he’ll be able to do for our team this year.”
Roster:
The QB brings a lot of good character traits to the team as reported by Keegan Nickoson. They will pair French with a brand new WR room led by transfer JaVonnie Gibson who played at Oklahoma last season and Cade Wolford from Kent State. Gibson didn’t produce as OU fans had hoped and is hoping to find his stride in the Big 12. And for Wolford this will be a step up in competition for sophomore WR. The Bearcats will have to rely heavily on the offensive line as the rest of the team is brand new.
On defense it is a similar story with only two returning productive starters from 2025 with both LB Jonathan Thompson and and DB Antwan Peek Jr. Everyone else will be a new player to the starting 11. Cincinnati brought in some talent in the portal for the defense with them mainly being secondary members. They brought a total of 7 players to battle out for 4 starting secondary spots. Adding a weak front 7 could and you have a huge issue for Cincinnati as they are missing 6 of the starters from last year.
All to say the concern from the media is talent or returning production. But really the concern is finishing the season. But in a piece from Steve Helwick the team said that they are ready to fix that issue but only time will tell if there is any truth to it. Unfortunately with another collapse as this becomes no longer a stat but a trend. This could be Satterfield’s last time leading a team onto the field in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati 2026 Football Schedule :
Conference Games *
9/5/2026, Boston College, Time : 2:30 P.M. CT
9/12/2026, Western Carolina, Time : 6:00 P.M. CT
9/19/2026, Miami (OH) , Time : 2:30 P.M. CT
9/26/2026, Kansas State *, Time : TBA
10/3/2026, at Arizona *, Time : TBA
10/17/2026, at West Virginia * , Time : TBA
10/24/2026, Texas Tech * , Time : TBA
10/31/2026, Utah *, Time : TBA
11/7/2026, at Houston *, Time : TBA
11/14/2026, at Iowa State * , Time : TBA
11/21/2026, Colorado * , Time : TBA
11/28/2026, at BYU * , Time : TBA
Sean’s Thoughts:
Get the tombstone ready and let’s put this to bed right now: 2026 is Scott Satterfield’s last year in Cincinnati. The Big 12 schedule makers handed him a death sentence. Remember this stat: A winning percentage of 0.071 (1-14 record) after their 7th game of the season.
After a Week 7 bye, the Bearcats have to face Texas Tech who will be carrying a massive chip on their shoulder over the Brendan Sorsby transfer debacle. I wouldn’t be shocked if Joey McGuire decides to put the hammer down and score 60 points on them, Mike Leach style.
Then comes the rest of the gauntlet: an impossible task against Utah, back-to-back road trips to Houston and Iowa State, a brief rainbow of joy hosting Colorado, and then pure PAIN in Provo against BYU. If there is a Bearcat fan out there who thinks Satterfield can go .500 or better against the “Legend of Doom” stretch (TTU, Utah, Houston, BYU), they need to be checked into a facility immediately.
I’m sure Brett Yormark is trying to call me right now to apologize and swear the schedule wasn’t a deliberate setup, but I’d have to stand up to answer the phone and I’m far too exhausted for his sidesteps.
The call to Ohio State’s Brian Hartline is coming. Cincy just hasn’t picked up the phone yet.
I said yet.