BYU Enemy Scouting Report: Cincinnati Bearcats
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Game location: Nippert Stadium/Cincinnati, Ohio
Game time/channel: Saturday, November 22, 5:00pm PT/8:00pm ET (FOX)
Spread: -2.5 (BYU)
Matchup History: 3-0 (BYU)
You read that right. BYU has never lost to Cincinnati. They only started playing each other in 2015, with BYU winning all three. They have met at Nippert Stadium just once, back in 2016. The Cougars controlled that game on the ground, with Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams rushed for a combined 167 yards. BYU’s defense held them to under 300 yards and out of the endzone completely, winning 20-3.
Head Coach: Scott Satterfield (3rd season)
2025 Season Thus Far
Cincinnati opened the season losing a tough battle to Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium. After that letdown, the Bearcats rattled off seven straight wins including beating a then 14th-ranked Iowa State. Then they ran into a Utah team that was heating up at the right time. The Utes smoked Cincy in Salt Lake 45-14. The Bearcats were still licking their wounds when Arizona came to town two weeks later after the bye. Arizona took advantage of two costly Cincinnati turnovers to defeat them, putting Cincy’s Big 12 title game hopes in serious jeopardy.
When Cincinnati Has the Ball
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby is the engine that makes the Bearcats engine go. That includes with his legs. He is fourth in the Big 12 in rushing yards by a quarterback and second in rushing touchdowns, only trailing BYU signal caller Bear Bachmeier. The Bearcats are 35th in the FBS in total offense and they do the majority of that on the ground.
It’s not just Sorsby. They have a two-headed monster at running back in Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor, who missed the last two games. Cyrus Allen is their speedy slot receiver who can create in space after the catch. Between the three big players in the run game, and Allen who can take the top off a defense and make guys miss, BYU needs to be sound tacklers in this ballgame. It’s a good thing they have two of the best linebackers in the conference in Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker.
When BYU Has the Ball
It’s been the theme all year- how well can BYU run the ball and control the line of scrimmage? They average 195 rushing yards per game, which ranks 21st in the country (Cincinnati just behind them at 22nd). Go figure, the one game BYU lost this season against Texas Tech saw them rush for 130 yards less than their season average. LJ Martin and Bear Bachmeier are a fantastic one-two punch on the ground.
The Bearcats are 87th in the FBS in rushing yards allowed per game. The Cougars have to take advantage of perhaps Cincy’s weakest aspect, their run defense. Bachmeier and Martin have over 1,400 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground combined.
A wrinkle to watch in this game is left guard Weylin Lapuaho got injured against TCU and will likely miss this game. Sonny Makasini took over and played well in a pinch. He will likely be the starter. BYU needs to steel themselves against being a disjointed line against the talented Cincinnati front seven. Jake Golday is Cincinnati’s “Jack Kelly” and he will blow up run plays if BYU isn’t on the same page.
How BYU Can Win
Cincinnati has lost their last two games to Utah and Arizona. Unsurprisingly, the Bearcats lost the turnover battle in both of those games. Meanwhile, BYU is tied for the 17th-most takeaways this season among the 136 FBS teams. That’s a simple formula- BYU needs to take the ball away at least once and turn it into points. If the turnover margin is zero or even, the game may get uncomfortable late. It will be a matter of which running attack shows up more. Given BYU’s ability to control the run game
Prediction: BYU 30, Cincinnati 24
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