TicketsCINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati football team is heading West this week for its first Big 12 road trip as it takes on BYU on Friday night (10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN) at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
The Bearcats are coming off a hard-fought 20-6 loss to No. 14 Oklahoma in their first conference game at Nippert Stadium, and will have only six days between games as they travel more than 1,500 miles to face the Cougars.
Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield said the Bearcats will focus on rest and mental reps during a light week of practice leading up to the contest.
"(The altitude) is something that we can't control, can't worry about, our guys just have to go out and prepare," Satterfield said. "I think the big thing we've talked about this week is getting rest. Really just getting your mind and body rested well this week as much as we can prior to going out there to help us on that Friday night."
Satterfield also remarked on the defense's performance so far. The Bearcats have allowed 20.5 ppg in their two Power 5 games, including 20 to an Oklahoma team that averaged 55.7 ppg heading into Nippert Stadium.
"We work really hard in the offseason, particularly in the spring and in August camp," he said. "Every day we're doing turnovers. I think anything you emphasize in practice; you get that back when you start playing games. So, the No. 1 thing on defense is to chase the football and if you chase the ball, a lot of times the ball will bounce your way and you'll end up getting it."
Thinner air will hopefully provide some inspiration for an offensive rebirth, even if BYU is dead-even with Cincinnati in the national rankings for scoring defense and five spots better in total defense. Satterfield specifically addressed a question about a lack of "splash plays," (20 yards or more) that were in abundance over the EKU and Pitt wins.
"They were there last week," he said. "We just didn't finish the plays. You go back and watch the film, and we had some. We had guys running wide open and a couple of times we were getting pressured and getting hit as the ball was getting thrown. We need a little bit more protection on those particular plays and if you hit those, that's 14 points and now it's a different game. That's what we talked to our guys about. It comes down to a few plays. You can't just go ahead and change a whole lot. We're going to keep doing what we're doing because there's plays to be made out there."
ON THE AIR TV: ESPN
Clay Matvick (PxP), Aaron Murray (Analyst), Lauren Sisler (Sideline)
Radio: Bearcats Sports Network
Dan Hoard (PxP), Jim Kelly Jr. (Analyst), Anthony Mazzini (Sideline), Mo Egger (Host/Engineer)
Local: 102.7 FM WEBN
Satellite: SiriusXM 132 or 199
App: The Varsity Network: "Search Cincinnati"
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK STARTS FRIDAY Cincinnati Athletics will begin celebrating National Student-Athlete Mental Health Week on Friday night (through Oct. 8).
UC's helmets will feature green ribbons, the symbol for mental health awareness. Players will wear "Strength in Unity Shirts" on the way to the stadium.
Thanks in part to Travis Kelce's 87 & Running Endowment for Cincinnati Student-Athletes Health and Wellness, UC Athletics recently funded a Sports Psychology and Counseling Department to expand the staff and personnel under Director of Sports Psychology Lenecia Nickell and ensure that all Bearcats have permanent access to services needed to be mentally and physically strong, confident and resilient.
Said Cincinnati Director of Athletics John Cunningham, "Travis is a tremendous ambassador for the University of Cincinnati and we are grateful for his continued support for our athletes and our athletic department. Mental health is a crucial component of college athletics. The 87 & Running Endowment will ensure that Cincinnati remains on the forefront of support for all UC athletes." BEARCATS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT BYU Cincinnati (2-2) held Oklahoma's high-powered offense to just 20 points, but couldn't convert in the red zone in two trips. After a 54-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Carter Brown brought Cincinnati with 4, 10-6, midway through the third quarter, Oklahoma scored a touchdown and added a field goal for the final margin. Senior linebacker Dorian Jones led the defense with 13 tackles and two TFLs, while Brown made two field goals and QB Emory Jones had 277 total yards.
BYU (3-1) is also coming off of a loss, falling at Kansas, 38-27. The Cougars are led by QB Kedon Slovis (257.3 yards per game) He has tossed eight TDs and three INTs. He passed for 357 vs. the Jayhawks with two touchdowns and two picks.
BYU is one of eight teams perfect in the red zone, and has 12 touchdowns on 15 attempts.
Cincinnati is averaging 214.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks 14th in the country and third in the Big 12.The Bearcats are also averaging 488.0 total yards, which is also No. 14 nationally and No. 4 in the Big 12. Cincinnati is seventh in the country in time of possession and first in the Big 12 (33:48). HAVE A GOOD NIGHT This Friday, Sept. 29, marks the 100-year anniversary of the first-ever night game in in the Midwest in college football history.
Carson Field served as the site for a 17-0 win over Kentucky Wesleyan on Sept. 29, 1923. It is believed to be the first major college football night game in the country.
The Bearcats have had remarkable success in night games in recent years, going 14-1 in night games since 2018 with the only loss coming against Miami (Ohio) two weeks ago.
Friday will mark the latest Eastern Time Zone kick off for the Bearcats since an 11:30 ET kick at Hawai'i on Dec. 6, 2008 in which Cincinnati won 29-24, overcoming a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit. Mardy Gilyard scored on a 69-yard TD pass from QB Dustin Grutza to secure the victory in a game that ended at 3:15 a.m. ET. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Cincinnati is 7-2 in Friday games since 2018 and has won 5 of 6. UC defeated ECU 35-13 and USF 45-28 in its last two road Friday night games during the 2021 season. Cincinnati fell to Tulane, 27-24, in the regular season finale on a Friday in 2022. KINER SPARKS LAST WIN ON THE ROAD In its only road game of the season, Cincinnati defeated Pitt, 27-21, as RB Corey Kiner ran for a career-best 153 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries. UC held a 217-83 advantage on the ground and led 20-7 at halftime.
The Bearcats held Pitt quarterback Phil Jurkovec to just 10 completions on 32 attempts and CB Justin Harris tied the school record with four PBUs in his first career start. GRZESIAK FAMILIAR WITH UTAH, SACKS Sixth-year pass rusher Daniel Grzesiak transferred to UC in the offseason after leading Utah State with 8.5 sacks and 13.5 TFLs last season. He had three tackles versus the Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium in 2022. The Los Angeles native has 17 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumbles while starting all four games at outside linebacker/edge this season. NUMBERS AND NOTES ...
The Bearcats are coming off a hard-fought 20-6 loss to No. 14 Oklahoma in their first conference game at Nippert Stadium, and will have only six days between games as they travel more than 1,500 miles to face the Cougars.
Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield said the Bearcats will focus on rest and mental reps during a light week of practice leading up to the contest.
"(The altitude) is something that we can't control, can't worry about, our guys just have to go out and prepare," Satterfield said. "I think the big thing we've talked about this week is getting rest. Really just getting your mind and body rested well this week as much as we can prior to going out there to help us on that Friday night."
Satterfield also remarked on the defense's performance so far. The Bearcats have allowed 20.5 ppg in their two Power 5 games, including 20 to an Oklahoma team that averaged 55.7 ppg heading into Nippert Stadium.
"We work really hard in the offseason, particularly in the spring and in August camp," he said. "Every day we're doing turnovers. I think anything you emphasize in practice; you get that back when you start playing games. So, the No. 1 thing on defense is to chase the football and if you chase the ball, a lot of times the ball will bounce your way and you'll end up getting it."
Thinner air will hopefully provide some inspiration for an offensive rebirth, even if BYU is dead-even with Cincinnati in the national rankings for scoring defense and five spots better in total defense. Satterfield specifically addressed a question about a lack of "splash plays," (20 yards or more) that were in abundance over the EKU and Pitt wins.
"They were there last week," he said. "We just didn't finish the plays. You go back and watch the film, and we had some. We had guys running wide open and a couple of times we were getting pressured and getting hit as the ball was getting thrown. We need a little bit more protection on those particular plays and if you hit those, that's 14 points and now it's a different game. That's what we talked to our guys about. It comes down to a few plays. You can't just go ahead and change a whole lot. We're going to keep doing what we're doing because there's plays to be made out there."
ON THE AIR TV: ESPN
Clay Matvick (PxP), Aaron Murray (Analyst), Lauren Sisler (Sideline)
Radio: Bearcats Sports Network
Dan Hoard (PxP), Jim Kelly Jr. (Analyst), Anthony Mazzini (Sideline), Mo Egger (Host/Engineer)
Local: 102.7 FM WEBN
Satellite: SiriusXM 132 or 199
App: The Varsity Network: "Search Cincinnati"
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK STARTS FRIDAY Cincinnati Athletics will begin celebrating National Student-Athlete Mental Health Week on Friday night (through Oct. 8).
UC's helmets will feature green ribbons, the symbol for mental health awareness. Players will wear "Strength in Unity Shirts" on the way to the stadium.
Thanks in part to Travis Kelce's 87 & Running Endowment for Cincinnati Student-Athletes Health and Wellness, UC Athletics recently funded a Sports Psychology and Counseling Department to expand the staff and personnel under Director of Sports Psychology Lenecia Nickell and ensure that all Bearcats have permanent access to services needed to be mentally and physically strong, confident and resilient.
Said Cincinnati Director of Athletics John Cunningham, "Travis is a tremendous ambassador for the University of Cincinnati and we are grateful for his continued support for our athletes and our athletic department. Mental health is a crucial component of college athletics. The 87 & Running Endowment will ensure that Cincinnati remains on the forefront of support for all UC athletes." BEARCATS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT BYU Cincinnati (2-2) held Oklahoma's high-powered offense to just 20 points, but couldn't convert in the red zone in two trips. After a 54-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Carter Brown brought Cincinnati with 4, 10-6, midway through the third quarter, Oklahoma scored a touchdown and added a field goal for the final margin. Senior linebacker Dorian Jones led the defense with 13 tackles and two TFLs, while Brown made two field goals and QB Emory Jones had 277 total yards.
BYU (3-1) is also coming off of a loss, falling at Kansas, 38-27. The Cougars are led by QB Kedon Slovis (257.3 yards per game) He has tossed eight TDs and three INTs. He passed for 357 vs. the Jayhawks with two touchdowns and two picks.
BYU is one of eight teams perfect in the red zone, and has 12 touchdowns on 15 attempts.
Cincinnati is averaging 214.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks 14th in the country and third in the Big 12.The Bearcats are also averaging 488.0 total yards, which is also No. 14 nationally and No. 4 in the Big 12. Cincinnati is seventh in the country in time of possession and first in the Big 12 (33:48). HAVE A GOOD NIGHT This Friday, Sept. 29, marks the 100-year anniversary of the first-ever night game in in the Midwest in college football history.
Carson Field served as the site for a 17-0 win over Kentucky Wesleyan on Sept. 29, 1923. It is believed to be the first major college football night game in the country.
The Bearcats have had remarkable success in night games in recent years, going 14-1 in night games since 2018 with the only loss coming against Miami (Ohio) two weeks ago.
Friday will mark the latest Eastern Time Zone kick off for the Bearcats since an 11:30 ET kick at Hawai'i on Dec. 6, 2008 in which Cincinnati won 29-24, overcoming a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit. Mardy Gilyard scored on a 69-yard TD pass from QB Dustin Grutza to secure the victory in a game that ended at 3:15 a.m. ET. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Cincinnati is 7-2 in Friday games since 2018 and has won 5 of 6. UC defeated ECU 35-13 and USF 45-28 in its last two road Friday night games during the 2021 season. Cincinnati fell to Tulane, 27-24, in the regular season finale on a Friday in 2022. KINER SPARKS LAST WIN ON THE ROAD In its only road game of the season, Cincinnati defeated Pitt, 27-21, as RB Corey Kiner ran for a career-best 153 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries. UC held a 217-83 advantage on the ground and led 20-7 at halftime.
The Bearcats held Pitt quarterback Phil Jurkovec to just 10 completions on 32 attempts and CB Justin Harris tied the school record with four PBUs in his first career start. GRZESIAK FAMILIAR WITH UTAH, SACKS Sixth-year pass rusher Daniel Grzesiak transferred to UC in the offseason after leading Utah State with 8.5 sacks and 13.5 TFLs last season. He had three tackles versus the Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium in 2022. The Los Angeles native has 17 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumbles while starting all four games at outside linebacker/edge this season. NUMBERS AND NOTES ...
- Friday's matchup will feature two of the nation's top punters. BYU's Ryan Rehkow is the active career leader in punting average (47.1), while UC junior Mason Fletcher (44.7) ranks sixth among active punters. Rehkow ranks third nationally with a 48.5 average in 2023. Fletcher is averaging 43.7 this season, but ranked fourth nationally with a 46.2 average en route to All-America honors in 2022.
- The Bearcats are allowing just 20.5 ppg in two games against P5 opponents this season.
- Cincinnati ranks fourth in the Big 12 in both sacks (12) and opponent completion % (53.0).
- Three different Bearcats have rushed for 100 yards in 2023 (QB Emory Jones, RB Ryan Montgomery and RB Corey Kiner [twice]).
- QB Emory Jones has 58 career total TDs, two 7-TD games, two 300-yard passing games, two 100-yard rushing games, 24 starts.
- The Bearcats went to back-to-back NY6 Bowls from 2020-21, and were the only G5 team to advance to the CFP (2021).
- Cincinnati is 661-601-50 (.523) all-time and is playing its 136th football season in 2023 (since 1885, one of 10 oldest in FBS).
- BYU QB Kedon Slovis, while at Pitt in 2022, was held to 158 yards (season-low) and two INTs against Bryan Brown's Louisville defense.