Cincinnati’s first fall camp scrimmage of 2026 gave the Bearcats plenty to feel good about, and the defense made the loudest statement.
The biggest splash came from Kenny Worthy, who picked off JC French IV and was close to adding to that total when a couple more balls slipped through defenders’ hands. Worthy has clearly separated himself as the top cornerback on the roster, and the interception only added to what has already been a strong camp for him.
More broadly, the defense looked like the group that controlled the day. The Bearcats were aggressive, and that showed up in a way Cincinnati fans should notice: instead of sitting back in static looks and rushing three down linemen like they have for much of the past few seasons, the unit brought more heat.
French, meanwhile, had a tougher Saturday than he had earlier in the week. He has still been Cincinnati’s most productive passer in camp overall, but this scrimmage was a step back from his previous two practices.
"I thought the two practices before today, I thought, man, he was outstanding," Head coach Scott Satterfield said about French. "Today wasn't as good as those two practices.
I didn't think, but he made some good plays today. Had the one pick there.
I think again we rotated some receivers out here with some different guys. I mean, that's a little bit tough on him, certainly got room to get better.
There's no question about it. But I mean, probably a solid performance.
Not as good as he was the last two days."
Satterfield also said the session started with good energy before fading late, something he tied to the conditions and the length of the workout. The team had been indoors all week, and Saturday’s practice stretched close to two and a half hours in warm weather.
"Early on, I thought it was good energy," Satterfield said about the session overall. "Then I thought it lulled toward the end of it, I thought.
Now it was warm here today, and we've been inside all week. So this is a long practice for us.
I mean, close to two and a half hours. So that had something to do with the lull there toward the end."
With the opener against Boston College exactly three weeks away, Cincinnati is still in the middle of sharpening things up. The Eagles are ranked 78th in ESPN's Football Power Index, while the Bearcats sit 46th.
For a team entering Year 4 of the Satterfield era, the early signs on defense are the kind that stand out. Cincinnati’s next step is turning that aggressiveness into something that lasts beyond one strong scrimmage.
In Other News...
Bearcats Camp Is Starting To Reveal Who Could Shape The Opener
As Cincinnatis camp turns toward the Sept. 5 opener at Nippert Stadium, the Bearcats are starting to get a clearer read on the players who could help define the early part of the season. Safety MJ Cannon singled out Worthys potential to create turnovers and also credited defensive coordinator Nate Woody for the way he has influenced the secondary, a sign that the defense may already be developing some of the traits it will need against Boston College.
On the other side of the ball, quarterback Liam OBrien showed off his athleticism in practice, while JC French IV put together a solid showing even with a few inconsistencies. Those kinds of camp snapshots do not settle a depth chart, but they do hint at how the Bearcats are evaluating the position room with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, and there is still more to learn before the first real test arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Scrimmage Put One Preseason Concern Front And Center
The Bearcats used their Aug. 15 dress rehearsal at Nippert Stadium to get a first real look at where things stand three weeks before the opener, and the offense showed enough promise to keep attention on the bigger picture. Four quarterbacks took part in the scrimmage, and each helped lead scoring drives, a sign that Cincinnati at least has options as the staff keeps sorting out the depth chart and evaluating how the pieces fit.
For Scott Satterfield, the more immediate concern came at wide receiver, where he said the group still needs to become more consistent. On the other side of the ball, safety MJ Cannon said new defensive coordinator Nate Woody has been putting a clear emphasis on turnovers, which gives the Bearcats a sense of direction as camp enters its final stretch and the competition for roles sharpens. [Read more 🡒]