TicketsCINCINNATI – Led by the outlet’s Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the University of Cincinnati football team had four players receive all-conference honors from Pro Football Focus (PFF) this week.
Redshirt junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby earned PFF All-Big 12 honors and was also its Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Joining him on the all-conference squad was redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Evan Tengesdahl, redshirt senior linebacker Jake Golday, and redshirt junior long snapper Eli Stein.
For Golday and Tengesdahl, this is the third all-conference honor they have received after earning the recognition from the league’s coaches and the Associated Press. Sorsby also earned all-conference honors from the league, while this is the first All-Big 12 nod for Stein.
Below is a look at each of Cincinnati’s PFF All-Big 12 selections:
Sorsby’s 2025 season earned him All-Big 12 honors from the league’s head coaches as well. One best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, he has completed 207-of-336 passes for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns while also rushing for 580 yards and nine scores. His 36 total touchdowns are tied for third nationally, and he owns the longest active streak of 2-plus touchdown games among FBS quarterbacks, having accounted for at least two TDs in 12 straight games. Sorsby ranks second in the Big 12 in passer rating (155.1) and is the league’s No. 1-ranked QB according to PFF (90.0). He was also an honorable mention pick for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
LB Jake Golday
Golday and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez are the only two Big 12 linebackers to earn first team All-Big 12 honors from the conference and AP while also being named to the PFF all-conference team. He has had a terrific 2025 campaign, leading UC with 105 tackles while adding six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three pass breakups. Golday is the first Bearcat to post a 100-tackle season since Ivan Pace Jr. in 2022. He ranks among the conference and national leaders in tackles per game (8.8) and has eight games with double-digit stops. Golday was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection last season.
Tengesdahl was a second-team all-conference pick by the league’s head coaches and was named to the first team by the AP. He has started all 12 games at left guard this season, his first as a primary starter at the collegiate level. The redshirt sophomore’s play helped make Cincinnati’s offensive line one of the best in the country. UC is tied for third nationally in fewest sacks allowed (seven) and ranks third in fewest TFL allowed (39). Cincinnati’s offense leads the Big 12 in yards per play (7.13) and yards per carry (5.90), ranking seventh and third in the nation, respectively. Tengesdahl helped lead an offensive line that was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Joe Moore Award.
LS Eli Stein
Stein joined the Bearcats prior to this season after spending time at Wisconsin and Arkansas. He reunited with UC punter Max Fletcher after the two played together at Arkansas, and Stein’s presence on the special teams unit has helped Cincinnati to a 42.03 net punting figure, which ranks 17th nationally.