The Bearcats head into Saturday afternoon’s Victory Bell matchup with Miami at a place no Cincinnati team has ever played before: FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium. The first football game at the venue is set for a 3:30 kickoff, with ESPN+ carrying the broadcast and 102.7 WEBN on the radio. Dan Hoard and Tony Pike will have the call.
A few of the staff predictions point in the same direction - Cincinnati leaning on its run game, wearing Miami down, and pulling away late. That’s the common thread, whether the final score projection is 42-13, 38-20, 35-24, or 45-13.
Chad Brendel sees Cincinnati’s depth and physicality turning the afternoon into a long one for Miami. He expects the Bearcats to get the ground game rolling early, then let the defense attack with its “ears pinned back” as the game opens up.
Brett Stein made a similar case, saying the offensive line should keep paving the way for the backs, while the depth at running back, receiver, and tight end allows the staff to keep fresh bodies rotating through. He also pointed to the defense, where the linebackers and defensive linemen have started fast.
The secondary, he wrote, hasn’t been tested much yet, but that should change Saturday, with Worthy, Finley, Meier, James and Johnson facing more pressure. He also praised QB French for his decision-making, poise, accuracy, and ability to extend drives with his legs.
Austin Bass expects the Bearcats to control both sides of the ball and keep Miami from consistently threatening either in the red zone or at the line of scrimmage. He noted that rivalry games can go sideways - just like they did in 2023 - but said he doesn’t see that kind of surprise this time. In his view, Cincinnati’s run game carries the day and the Bearcats move to 3-0.
Carey Hoffman took a closer look at Miami’s profile, noting that the RedHawks were beaten through the air by Pitt in Week One but have been solid against the run in both games. He added that last week’s win over Holy Cross may have helped them regain their footing, though he also called that opponent “a really bad team.” Hoffman said Miami usually rallies for the UC challenge and suggested the outcome could hinge on how well Nate Woody’s new defense can disrupt the RedHawks and force mistakes.
Regan Yoakam expects Miami to hang around early before Cincinnati takes over in the second half. Brent Young reached back to the 2023 upset in his prediction, recalling a game he thought would be easy for the Bearcats before the RedHawks stunned them in overtime. This time, though, he sees the opposite outcome: Cincinnati controlling the line of scrimmage again, the defense continuing to force takeaways, and the overall series record getting “a little extra cushion.”
Eric Waddell said this is one of his favorite games because of the history and the personal connections he has to Clifton and Oxford. He still expects Cincinnati to win by a comfortable margin, but believes Miami’s emotion will keep things tight for a while.
Aaron Smith was the most aggressive on the scoreboard, predicting a heavy dose of the run game, a clock-chewing offense, pressure from the defense, and “3 or more turnovers,” with the possibility of four. Keegan Nickoson also expects Miami to be Cincinnati’s toughest test so far, but thinks the Bearcats are less likely to make the kinds of mistakes that cost them in 2023. He believes the game could be close at halftime before UC’s size and physicality take over in the second half, and he singled out Kenny Worthy for an interception and Cole Tabb for a 100-yard rushing day.
In Other News...
Cincinnati's 3-0 Start Still Has One Numbers Problem
Cincinnatis unbeaten start has given the Bearcats plenty to like early in the season, but ESPNs College Football Power Index still sees a more complicated picture than the record alone suggests. After Week 3, the Bearcats remain 3-0, yet their FPI standing slipped even as other teams around the country shuffled upward, a reminder that the margin for error gets thinner once conference play begins to shape the national pecking order.
The bigger concern is not the perfect record, but the numbers attached to what comes next. Cincinnati still has a strong chance to reach six wins, but that figure leaves room for a lot to change, and the model is not treating the Bearcats like a team that has fully separated itself from the pack. For a program trying to turn a clean start into something more meaningful, the early resume looks sturdy, but the underlying metrics still want more proof. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Turn Brutal Start Into Rivalry Win Fans Wont Forget
For a half in front of a raucous crowd at TQL Stadium, the Bearcats looked like they were headed for a painful night in the 129th Battle for the Victory Bell. Miami (Ohio) controlled the first 30 minutes and carried a 28-7 lead into halftime, leaving Cincinnati with a familiar kind of rivalry pressure and a long climb back if it wanted to keep the Bell from slipping away.
Instead, Cincinnati flipped the script in the second half, outscoring Miami 28-3 and leaning on key defensive plays to keep the door open. Cole Tabbs 53-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter finished off the comeback and pushed the Bearcats to a 35-31 win, the kind of result that can linger with a fan base long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Cincinnati Gave Bearcats Fans The Perfect Ending To Victory Bell Rivalry
The latest chapter of the Victory Bell rivalry lived up to its history, and then some, before Cincinnati finally put a bow on the 129th and final scheduled meeting with a 35-31 win over Miami (OH). The Bearcats had to claw back from a 28-7 halftime hole, turning a game that looked out of reach into one of those September finishes fans remember for years.
Cole Tabb powered the comeback, scoring three touchdowns and capping it with a 53-yard burst that delivered the decisive score. With the series now set to pause indefinitely, Cincinnati leaves the rivalry with a 62-60-7 edge all-time, and with the kind of ending supporters could hardly have scripted better. [Read more 🡒]