UC FB: By the Numbers — Bye Week

Cincinnati enters its bye week following a 4–1 start to the 2026 campaign. Head Coach Scott Satterfield's 4–0 start was impressive for several reasons, including scoring 30+ points in four consecutive games. The 162 points scored by the Bearcats in the first four games represent the fifth-highest total points scored through four games in Cincinnati history, behind only 2011 (198), 2007 (180), 2009 (173), and 2022 (170). Satterfield's group has also shown resilience by overcoming halftime deficits in back-to-back weeks over Miami (Ohio) and Kansas State. The Bearcats overcame a 10-point deficit to beat K-State, the second straight week they have overcome a double-digit deficit to win (21 points Week 3 vs. Miami (Ohio)). The last time UC overcame a double-digit deficit to win in back-to-back games was 2011 against South Florida (Oct. 22, 2011) and Pitt (Nov. 5, 2011).

Following the bye week, the Bearcats will travel to Morgantown to face West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium with a 12:00 p.m. ET kickoff. The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT, with a simulcast available on truTV and HBO Max. Cincinnati is 2-3 off bye weeks in the Satterfield era.

• Cincinnati began the season with a 4–0 start for the first time since 2021 and just the seventh time since the turn of the century (2007, 2009, 2012, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2026) before suffering its first setback to Arizona, 34-7 in Week 5.
• Cincinnati completed back-to-back perfect Septembers across the last two seasons (2025: 3–0; 2026: 4–0). The Bearcats are one of just seven FBS programs undefeated in September games over the last two years: 8–0 (1.000): Indiana | 7–0 (1.000): Cincinnati, Alabama, BYU, Miami (FL), Texas, Texas Tech.
• Cincinnati has scored 23 offensive touchdowns, T-3rd most in the Big 12.
• Cincinnati ranks No. 18 nationally in rushing yards per game (230.8 YPG) and tied for No. 7 nationally with 17 rushing touchdowns. UC’s 17 rushing TDs trail only LSU (19) and Florida (18) among Power 4 programs. The Bearcats are averaging 5.95 yards per carry (1,154 total rushing yards on 194 attempts).
• Running back Cole Tabb is averaging 9.7 yards per carry, tied for the highest in the conference with Kansas State’s quarterback Avery Johnson and most among qualified running backs.
• Tabb’s seven total touchdowns rank T-3rd in the conference and is 14^th
• Tabb rushed for three touchdowns in Week 4 vs. K-State, becoming the first Bearcat since Demarco McCleskey (1998) to have three touchdowns in back-to-back games (2 rushing, 1 receiving vs. Miami (OH).
• Running back Gi’Bran Payne leads the team in rushing with 392 yards, eclipsing the 100-yard mark in three of the first five games.
• Payne (126) and Tabb (124) both eclipsed 100 yards rushing in the same game vs. Kansas State (Week 4), the first running back tandem since Ryan Montgomery and Corey Kiner in 2023 to do that.
• Cincinnati ranks tied for No. 19 nationally in turnover margin (+1.00 per game) with a +5 total turnover differential through 5 games. UC's offense has surrendered just 2 total turnovers all season (2 fumbles lost, 0 interceptions).

• Cincinnati is tied for No. 1 nationally (Wake Forest) with five players who have already recorded 30+ combined tackles this season (Jasper Beeler, Simeon Coleman, Antwan Peek Jr., Jonathan Thompson, and Damaine Wilson). No team in the FBS features more 30-tackle defenders than the Bearcats.
• Linebacker Antwan Peek Jr. is third in the Big 12 in total tackles with 38 and is tied with the most forced fumbles with two.
• Linebacker Jonathan Thompson leads the UC defense with 5.5 tackles for loss. He has also recorded 2.5 sacks (tied team lead) and is second in tackles with 37. Thompson is one of only two players in the FBS this season to record at least 35 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles through the first five games (joining UCLA’s Samuel Omosigho).
• MJ Cannon is one of seven Big 12 defenders with five or more pass breakups.
• Cincinnati leads the Big 12 with nine forced fumbles. UC has only had the ball bounce its way on three of those fumbles for recoveries. Causing the fumbles for the Bearcats defense has been Antwan Peek (3), Jonathan Thompson (2), Simeon Coleman, MJ Cannon, Damaine Wilson and Jacob Finley.
• Cincinnati’s 690 yards of total offense vs. Western Carolina (9/12/26) is the second highest output this season by a Big 12 team, trailing only Kansas (706 yards).
• Quarterback JC French IV has played turnover-free football through five games, as the only Big 12 starter to have not thrown an interception yet.
• French ranks 3rd in the conference in completion percentage, completing 69.9%, trailing only Noah Fifita (Arizona) and Devon Dampier (Utah).
• Cincinnati is 6-for-10 converting on 4th downs, second best behind Baylor.
• Max Fletcher’s career punt average is now 45.77 yards as a Bearcat, which is the best all-time. UC Athletics Hall of Famer Kevin Huber averaged 45.47 yards per punt during his illustrious career. Fletcher is averaging 46.71 yards this season.
• Following the bye and a trip to Morgantown to play West Virginia, the Bearcats’ next three opponents—Texas Tech, Utah, and Houston—to close October and enter November are all currently ranked in the AP Poll.
• Cincinnati’s remaining seven opponents feature a combined record of 25-8 (.758 winning percentage). This ranks as the tied for the 8th-highest remaining opponent winning percentage in college football, highlighting a challenging back-half slate.