TicketsCINCINNATI — Cincinnati football left guard Evan Tengesdahl has been named to the AP Midseason All-America Second Team, announced by the AP on Thursday afternoon.
Tengesdahl, a 325-pounder from Dayton, Ohio, has started every game at left guard for the Bearcats since the start of 2025, earning AP All-America honors following last season.
Tengesdahl entered 2026 as one of college football’s most decorated linemen, earning Preseason First-Team All-America honors from the Associated Press, The Athletic, Sporting News, On3, Pro Football Network, Athlon Sports, and CBS Sports. He was also named to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America team as well as watch lists for the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award, and Phil Steele preseason lists.
Through five games this season, Cincinnati ranks No. 12 nationally in rushing offense (230.8 YPG) and tied for No. 10 nationally with 17 rushing touchdowns. Among Power 4 programs, the Bearcats’ 17 rushing TDs trail only those of Louisville (21), West Virginia (21), LSU (20), Florida (19), UCLA (19), and Alabama (18). The Bearcats are averaging 5.95 yards per carry (1,154 total yards on 194 attempts), sharing the mark with Utah and tying for the second-highest average in the Big 12 behind only BYU (6.02 YPC).
Tengesdahl and his teammates up front have paved the way for running backs Gi’Bran Payne and Cole Tabb to have early-season success, combining for four individual 100-yard rushing performances and rushing for over 250 total yards in three of the first five games. Since 1996, it is the first time the Bearcats have had three games with at least 250 yards rushing in the same month (September).
According to PFF, Tengesdahl has surrendered just one sack across 154 pass-blocking opportunities (161 total pass-block snaps), holding a 97.4 PFF Pass Blocking Efficiency rating through five games.
Tengesdahl and Taran Tyo were also named to the official Watch List for the 2026 Pony Express Award on Thursday morning, standing as the only offensive line tandem in the country selected to this year’s watch list.
Payne leads the team in rushing with 392 yards, eclipsing the 100-yard mark in three of the first five games. Tabb ranks second in the Big 12 in yards per carry (9.7 avg.), trailing only Arizona’s Antwan Roberts (9.8 avg.), who has logged 11 fewer carries than Tabb. Tabb’s six rushing touchdowns rank tied for fourth in the conference.
About Cincinnati Athletics
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 400 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 118 conference titles, and entered a new era as a member of the Big 12 in 2023. UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.