Four takeaways from Cincinnati’s statement 31-26 win over Kansas State

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A Saturday night statement was made. The Cincinnati Bearcats are 4-0 for the first time since 2021, when they qualified for the College Football Playoff.

Cincinnati entered Saturday night at Nippert Stadium as touchdown underdogs to a Kansas State team which was hardly challenged during a 3-0 start, outscoring its first three opponents 136-30. While the Wildcats’ surge through 2026 looked bound to continue during a 10-0 start, Cincinnati flipped the script and dominated the second half.

The Bearcats exited the energetic environment with a 31-26 victory, winning their Big 12 opener for the third consecutive season. Here are four takeaways from the team’s fourth victory of 2026:

Cincinnati’s run blocking is unmatched

We knew heading into the year that Cincinnati would have one of the best offensive lines in college football. The Bearcats returned three starters — AP All-American left guard Evan Tengesdahl, All-Big 12 left tackle Joe Cotton, and Taran Tyo, who transitioned from right guard to center. With those three in the mix, Cincinnati produced the third-most yards per rushing attempt and allowed the second-fewest sacks in the FBS.

The run blocking is arguably even better in 2026. Through four games, Cincinnati ranks seventh in rushing offense at 270 yards per game — averaging 94 more yards than the prolific 2025 run game. The Bearcats’ 6.51 yards per attempt currently ranks seventh in the FBS, and they posted 271 yards on a 7.1 average against Kansas State. This wasn’t just any defense. This was an elite Kansas State front that only surrendered 96 rushing yards per game during its 3-0 start, currently ranking third in the FBS in tackles for loss.

Cincinnati’s blockers handled the Wildcats, and the Bearcats only needed eight completions on 13 attempts due to the success of the run game. It wasn’t just the returning starters. Right tackle Judea Milton continued an excellent start to the season, while tight ends Gavin Grover and Lyviel Waters delivered several impressive blocks too. They regularly fended off star defensive end Wendell Gregory in the second half, spun around linebackers, and provided open lanes for the running backs to thrive.

Cincinnati is attaining similar ground success with a different cast of running backs from last year, but the backs still deserve credit for their abilities to read the blocks and make cuts before hitting the hole. Gi’Bran Payne totaled 126 rushing yards, while Cole Tabb added 124 and three touchdowns. Tabb, who has been unstoppable in Cincinnati’s last six quarters, is currently averaging 11.1 yards per carry — the most in the FBS among ball carriers with at least 10 attempts.

The Bearcats are finishers for once

Cincinnati has regularly started well in the Scott Satterfield era. Once again, the Bearcats are off to a strong start, faring 4-0 for the first time since joining the Big 12. However, finishing has been the issue — finishing games and finishing seasons. Not only have the Bearcats dropped five-straight to conclude each of the last two seasons. But they regularly struggled in second halves last year, producing a plus-100 scoring margin in first halves and a minus-39 in second halves.

The 2026 Bearcats have started games a bit slow, and they trail by an aggregate score of 20-17 after first quarters. Excluding FCS opponent Western Carolina, they’ve lost first halves, 45-27. Yet, they’re undefeated and keep storming back. Cincinnati’s second half scores this year have all been positive — 24-15 vs. Boston College, 34-0 vs. Western Carolina, 28-3 vs. Miami (OH), and 21-9 vs. Kansas State. Summing it all together, that’s a decisive 107-27 domination in second halves.

Cincinnati erased double-digit deficits in consecutive weeks, trailing Miami by as many as 21 and Kansas State by as many as 10. The defense regularly turns things up a notch in second halves, and that’s when Cole Tabb and the run game are usually at their best.

Cincinnati needs coverage improvements to contend

If there’s anything to nitpick in a statement win, it’s the coverage. Cincinnati needs better coverage if it wants to contend in the Big 12. The Bearcats currently field the nation’s 117th-ranked passing defense, surrendering 254 yards per game. Only 13 FBS teams have allowed more 10-yard completions, 10 have allowed more 20-yard completions, and 11 have allowed more 30-yard completions than Cincinnati.

Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson threw fo 292 yards and three touchdowns without an interception Saturday night at Nippert Stadium. Cincinnati’s defense ensured it wouldn’t be an efficient 292, as it required 50 attempts. However, there were plenty of open Wildcats, particularly in the first half, and some missed arm tackles led to extra yards after the catch.

The Bearcats do boast a ratio of 1-of-1 on passing touchdowns allowed to interceptions. They’ve already picked off three passes which is an improvement over last year’s defense which only managed an FBS-low two interceptions. There’s still room to improve, and the unit will have its hands full next week against Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, who threw for 294 yards at Cincinnati last November.

Nippert at night is an underrated atmosphere

Watch every single college football game from Week 4, and you won’t find many environments as electric as Nippert Stadium. As Miami (OH) head coach Chuck Martin said about Nippert in his postgame press conference last week, “When that thing gets rocking, it gets loud. I’d like a day game, not a night game, ’cause it’s a little more rocking at night. It’s all liquored up. So, rather play them at day because the couple times we’ve played them at day — I’m like, it’s not so bad here.”

The first primetime atmosphere of the season at Nippert Stadium delivered. A near-full house of 37,562 flocked into the stadium for the Big 12 opener, all adhering to the blackout theme, and the energy remained high from start to finish. Cincinnati is 3-0 at its home stadium this year, and the Bearcats could use that extra boost in upcoming ranked matchups against Texas Tech and Utah.

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