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Every Tuesday and Thursday-ish through late June, we’re working through all 12 opponents on WVU’s 2026 schedule.

Here’s our First Look at Cincinnati

Game Vitals

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Where: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, West Virginia

Series Record: WVU leads the all-time series 18-3-1. The Mountaineers have won both meetings since the series resumed in Big 12 play, including a 31-24 win

2025 Record: 7-6 (5-4 Big 12)

Head Coach: Scott Satterfield (4th season)

Preview

Scott Satterfield is in his fourth year at Cincinnati and the program still hasn’t figured out how to finish. The Bearcats started 7-1 last season, cracked the top 20, and lost their last five, including a 35-13 loss to Navy in the Liberty Bowl. The year before that they started 5-2 and lost their last five to miss a bowl entirely. Since he took the job in 2023, Cincinnati is 4-15 in the back half of the season. Add in the departure of Brendan Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech, plus the loss of linebacker Jake Golday, tight end Joe Royer, wide receivers Cyrus Allen and Jeff Caldwell, and defensive lineman Dante Corleone to the NFL, and this is essentially a new team.

The offense is being rebuilt around JC French, the all-time leading passer in Georgia Southern history, who completed over 70% of his passes throughout spring practice. French isn’t as explosive as Sorsby but he’s more consistent. Satterfield specifically mentioned French’s ability to move the chains as what drew them to him over a boom-or-bust quarterback. He’ll operate behind the best thing Cincinnati has going — an offensive line that gave up only 8 sacks last season and averaged 6.9 yards per play, the best in the Big 12. Joe Cotton at left tackle and Evan Tengesdahl at left guard are two of the best at that position in the conference. Taran Tyo slides to center. The right side — with Judea Milon and Noal Latulippe competing at tackle — is the one legitimate question up front.

The skill positions around French are mostly new. JV Gibson, an Oklahoma transfer, had three touchdown catches in the spring game and was the most impressive receiver over the final stretch of spring practice. Gio Kontosis looked great in spring practice as well. Cade Wolford, a Kent State transfer who averaged over 25 yards per catch last season from teh slot, gives them a gadget option. The backfield is deep and physical. Gi’Bran Payne, a Notre Dame transfer, drew high praise from Satterfield after the spring. He’ll compete with redshirt freshman Zion Johnson, Louisiana transfer Zylan Perry, and Stanford transfer Cole Tabb.

Defenively, Cincinnati is running a new scheme under first-year coordinator Nate Woody, who spent six years at army and coached with Satterfield at Appalachian State. The 3-3-5 stack that generated almost no pressure the last two season is gone. Woody runs a 3-4 with multiple pressure packages, always rushing at least four with the ability to blitz from anywhere on the field. His defensive have averaged around 18 interceptions in a season. Last year the Bearcats had two all season.

The font seven has pieces. Marquaze Parker is the primary pass rusher off the edge. Brian Simms III returns outside alongside him as a potential nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Inside, Jonathan Thompson steps into a feature role after finishing with 73 tackles last season. Simeon Coleman, a junior who was a freshman All-American two years ago, is back alongside him. Filip Maciorowski, a Northern Illinois transfer and former walk-on who the staff compared to Golday, fills out the room. The secondary was rebuilt almost entirely through the portal. The headliners there are safety Ty Goodwill, a 6-3 transfer the staff described as their best portal addition, and MJ Cannon, a 6-3 Bowling Green transfer. The depth behind them is largely from the Group of Five and lower.

Stopping the run is a legitimate concern. Dante Corleone, who anchored the interior last season, has gone to the NFL. Josh Hough, a 335-pound nose tackle from Division II Californa (PA) is the primary replacement. Woody’s scheme asks a lot of the nose tackle, and it’s up in the air if the new pieces can hold up against Big 12 run games.

Cincinnati has the third-toughest schedule in the Big 12 this year. They come to Morgantown having already played at Arizona, with Texas Tech at home the following week. Outside projections range from five to eight wins with most landing around six or seven.

Way Too Early Prediction

West Virginia should win this game. Cincinnati is breaking in a new quarterback, a new defensive coordinator, and a rebuilt secondary, and they’re coming to Morgantown off a road game at Arizona with Texas Tech waiting the following week. WVU has won both meetings since the series resumed and has home field. If the Mountaineers can’t take advantage of all that, it probably means the offense hasn’t found its footing yet — and that’s a conversation nobody wants to be having in week seven. This one is there for the taking.

West Virginia 31, Cincinnati 21
Projected record through Week 6: 5-2 (3-1 Big 12)

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