TicketsCINCINNATI -- At long last, the Cincinnati football team is back in Nippert Stadium on Saturday for its 2022 home opener against Kennesaw State. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
The game is sold-out, but fans can seek tickets through the team's official secondary market hub, StubHub. Those unable to make it can catch the action on ESPN+ and WCKY.
Head coach Luke Fickell spoke with the media Tuesday about transfer quarterback Ben Bryant's performance, the Bearcats' physicality, first-time starters who stepped up and, of course, UC's next opponent. The Bearcats will put their 27-game home winning streak on the line against the Owls, a perennial FCS playoff team. Five takeaways from the presser can be found here.
• UC has won 27 straight games at Nippert Stadium, which is the second-longest home win streak in the country behind Clemson (34).
• Cincinnati has gone four straight seasons without a home loss. UC's last home loss came on Nov. 10, 2017 versus Temple (35-24).
• The Bearcats have won 20 consecutive home openers - a streak that began with a 36-29 overtime win over TCU in 2002.
• Cincinnati is 28-4 at home under Fickell - since the start of 2017. THE MATCHUP WITH THE OWLS • Cincinnati and Kennesaw State will play for the first time ever. KSU fell to Samford, 27-17, to open the season.
• The Owls use a run-heavy option offense. KSU has finished in the top three in rushing yards in the FCS for six straight seasons. Kennesaw State has rushed for 150+ yards in 73 consecutive games. The Owls averaged 278.6 rush ypg in 2021.
• KSU advanced to the second round of the 2021 FCS playoffs and were preseason No. 6/8 in FCS heading into 2022. TRANSFERS SHINE IN BATTLE AT #19 ARKANSAS • Cincinnati battled tough but fell 31-24 at No. 19 Arkansas to open the season in front of the seventh-largest crowd in Razorback Stadium history. Redshirt senior QB Ben Bryant (Eastern Michigan transfer) threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns, while senior linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. (Miami [OH]) powered the defense with 12 tackles and 3.5 TFLs. UC shook off a 14-0 halftime deficit to tally 259 yards in the second half.
• Bryant threw for 233 yards and both TDs after halftime, including 177 yards in the third quarter.
• Sophomore RB Corey Kiner (LSU) and senior WR Nick Mardner (Hawaii) scored the first rushing and receiving touchdowns of the season for the Bearcats. UC's first 17 points were scored by transfers, including a field goal from Ryan Coe (Delaware).
• Senior tight end Lenny Taylor had a fourth-quarter touchdown to bring UC within a score, but Arkansas was able to run out the clock over the final 5:29 of the game. Senior CB Ja'Quan Sheppard had a sack and two PBUs in his first career start, playing impressively as Sauce Gardner's replacement at boundary cornerback. RECENT HOME OPENERS • Tyler Scott took a Desmond Ridder pass 81 yards for a TD on the first pass and second play of the 2021 season in the home-opening 49-14 win versus Miami (OH) last season. Josh Whyle, Lenny Taylor and Ryan Montgomery all also caught TD passes in the home opener last year, while Evan Prater had a rushing score.
• Whyle had an 8-yard TD pass from Bryant in the 2020 home-opening 55-20 win over Austin Peay. Bryant also had a 40-yard touchdown run in the 2020 opener, while Tre Tucker caught a TD and Arquon Bush had a 31-yard pick.
• UC beat UCLA 24-14 to open 2019 at Nippert behind two touchdowns from Michael Warren and an INT from Ja'Von Hicks. MCCLELLAND SHINES IN OPENER • Charles McClelland has overcome two ACL tears in his Cincinnati career after showing promise in 2018, when he rushed for 495 yards (7.7 ypc) and four touchdowns.
• He had 86 total yards on nine touches at Arkansas.
• His 35-yard run late in the first half at Arkansas was his longest since a 55-yarder in the 2018 regular-season finale, and his 30-yard reception was his best since a 38-yarder in the 2018 Military Bowl.
• He missed the 2019 season due to a preseason injury and suffered the same fate after playing the first four games in 2020.
The game is sold-out, but fans can seek tickets through the team's official secondary market hub, StubHub. Those unable to make it can catch the action on ESPN+ and WCKY.
Head coach Luke Fickell spoke with the media Tuesday about transfer quarterback Ben Bryant's performance, the Bearcats' physicality, first-time starters who stepped up and, of course, UC's next opponent. The Bearcats will put their 27-game home winning streak on the line against the Owls, a perennial FCS playoff team. Five takeaways from the presser can be found here.
BEARCATS READY TO ROCK SOLD-OUT NIPPERT STADIUM • Cincinnati opens the home slate for 2022 hosting Kennesaw State. The Bearcats sold out of season tickets for the first time in program history and sold out the home-opener.Humble ourselves.
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) September 6, 2022
Challenge ourselves.
Own it.@CoachFick reflects on the three things that the #Bearcats will focus on ahead of this weekend's return to Nippert Stadium.
Full presser ➡️ https://t.co/RejifAxnEK pic.twitter.com/2cOyhBUzhd
• UC has won 27 straight games at Nippert Stadium, which is the second-longest home win streak in the country behind Clemson (34).
• Cincinnati has gone four straight seasons without a home loss. UC's last home loss came on Nov. 10, 2017 versus Temple (35-24).
• The Bearcats have won 20 consecutive home openers - a streak that began with a 36-29 overtime win over TCU in 2002.
• Cincinnati is 28-4 at home under Fickell - since the start of 2017. THE MATCHUP WITH THE OWLS • Cincinnati and Kennesaw State will play for the first time ever. KSU fell to Samford, 27-17, to open the season.
• The Owls use a run-heavy option offense. KSU has finished in the top three in rushing yards in the FCS for six straight seasons. Kennesaw State has rushed for 150+ yards in 73 consecutive games. The Owls averaged 278.6 rush ypg in 2021.
• KSU advanced to the second round of the 2021 FCS playoffs and were preseason No. 6/8 in FCS heading into 2022. TRANSFERS SHINE IN BATTLE AT #19 ARKANSAS • Cincinnati battled tough but fell 31-24 at No. 19 Arkansas to open the season in front of the seventh-largest crowd in Razorback Stadium history. Redshirt senior QB Ben Bryant (Eastern Michigan transfer) threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns, while senior linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. (Miami [OH]) powered the defense with 12 tackles and 3.5 TFLs. UC shook off a 14-0 halftime deficit to tally 259 yards in the second half.
• Bryant threw for 233 yards and both TDs after halftime, including 177 yards in the third quarter.
• Sophomore RB Corey Kiner (LSU) and senior WR Nick Mardner (Hawaii) scored the first rushing and receiving touchdowns of the season for the Bearcats. UC's first 17 points were scored by transfers, including a field goal from Ryan Coe (Delaware).
• Senior tight end Lenny Taylor had a fourth-quarter touchdown to bring UC within a score, but Arkansas was able to run out the clock over the final 5:29 of the game. Senior CB Ja'Quan Sheppard had a sack and two PBUs in his first career start, playing impressively as Sauce Gardner's replacement at boundary cornerback. RECENT HOME OPENERS • Tyler Scott took a Desmond Ridder pass 81 yards for a TD on the first pass and second play of the 2021 season in the home-opening 49-14 win versus Miami (OH) last season. Josh Whyle, Lenny Taylor and Ryan Montgomery all also caught TD passes in the home opener last year, while Evan Prater had a rushing score.
• Whyle had an 8-yard TD pass from Bryant in the 2020 home-opening 55-20 win over Austin Peay. Bryant also had a 40-yard touchdown run in the 2020 opener, while Tre Tucker caught a TD and Arquon Bush had a 31-yard pick.
• UC beat UCLA 24-14 to open 2019 at Nippert behind two touchdowns from Michael Warren and an INT from Ja'Von Hicks. MCCLELLAND SHINES IN OPENER • Charles McClelland has overcome two ACL tears in his Cincinnati career after showing promise in 2018, when he rushed for 495 yards (7.7 ypc) and four touchdowns.
• He had 86 total yards on nine touches at Arkansas.
• His 35-yard run late in the first half at Arkansas was his longest since a 55-yarder in the 2018 regular-season finale, and his 30-yard reception was his best since a 38-yarder in the 2018 Military Bowl.
• He missed the 2019 season due to a preseason injury and suffered the same fate after playing the first four games in 2020.
⚫️ AND ⚪️
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) September 6, 2022
with a twist.#Bearcats pic.twitter.com/YCS5waYLAT