Cincinnati and Miami (OH) are almost back on the field for one more scheduled Battle for the Victory Bell, and this one lands Saturday at TQL Stadium. The Bearcats and RedHawks have split the last two matchups, taking turns in 2023 and 2024, but Cincinnati still owns the edge in the all-time series, 61-60-7.
That slim lead comes in the oldest FBS non-conference rivalry in the country, one that started on Dec. 8, 1888.
It was also the first college football game played in Ohio. The history is heavy here, even if Cincinnati enters this meeting as the clear favorite.
ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives the Bearcats a 93.5% chance to win. Cincinnati is No. 34 in ESPN’s FPI, while Miami checks in at No.
- The spread has also moved in the Bearcats’ direction, with Cincinnati now listed as a 16.5-point favorite after opening at 14.5 on Sunday.
UC is 2-0 against the spread so far this season.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN+.
Scott Satterfield said Monday that Cincinnati has been stressing its own standard all week, but he also made it clear the Bearcats understand what this game means.
“We talk to our guys about how, no matter who we are playing, we have to play to our standard," UC head coach Scott Satterfield said on Monday. "We have to practice to our standard, and that is what we talk about as well.
Getting everything we can out of our guys. We got our guys knowing exactly what to do and all that.
But they need to know who we are playing against and the history behind the team we are playing. There is more history behind some teams like Miami compared to Western Carolina last week.
"We need to get across how important this game is to our guys, and that is something that we have been able to do. We will continue to talk about this throughout the whole week.
The thing about these guys at Miami is that Coach [Chuck] Martin has been there. I think it is his 13th year.
He has done a great job. I think they played for three straight MAC Championships.
You can turn the film on for this year. You can turn it on from five years ago.
It is pretty much going to look the same."
Miami arrives with a 1-1 record, but the numbers on defense are rough. The RedHawks opened with a 59-14 loss to Pitt before beating FCS Holy Cross 45-7, and their defense has been battered through two games. They are giving up 6.95 yards per play, which ranks 131st nationally out of 138 teams.
The pass defense has been especially vulnerable. Miami is allowing 310.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 135th nationally, and its 181.9 passer rating allowed is ugly enough to put Cincinnati’s passing game in a prime spot. The RedHawks also own the second-worst Pro Football Focus coverage grade in the country at 46.8.
That sets up well for JC French IV, who already has a top-40 total QBR through two games. He said his comfort level has grown because of the work he did late last season at Georgia Southern.
“I think for me, it really started at the end of the 2024 season when I was at Georgia Southern. In that offense, it was on the quarterback a lot to get into checks, getting to certain runs if it's a pass play, and also check passes and protections and all that, so that's where I think I learned the most," French said about his growth this week.
"Last year I think I got a lot better at it. This year I feel comfortable doing all that.
But it's not as much of an emphasis in this offense as it was. So it's nice coming in here and kind of having that tool in my tool belt if we need it.”
French faces a defense that has already been shredded through the air, and his matchup looks even better when paired with Cincinnati’s ground attack, which has been a top-10 unit. Miami does allow only 103 rushing yards per game, so there may be some resistance there, but the passing game looks like the obvious path for Cincinnati.
On the other side, freshman quarterback David McComb has shown enough to get attention. He posted a 69.4 ESPN QBR against Pitt and owns a 72.7 PFF grade on 79 snaps this season. Still, he is walking into a much tougher setting against a Cincinnati defense that thrives on creating havoc.
Satterfield said McComb’s mobility is real, even if it may not show up the same way as some of the quarterbacks Cincinnati has already seen this season.
“I think he certainly can run; he is capable. I think he is probably better at running than what somebody would give him credit for," Satterfield said.
"He is a bigger guy. They do run a little bit of zone-lead stuff, where he will pull off the backside if you do not account for him.
He is certainly not going to be the type of runner that we saw the first week.
"Boston College's Max [McKenzie] was a really good runner. Last week I thought Lex [Thomas] was very elusive as well.
So, it will be a little bit different this week. He is a big kid, and he can throw it.
He throws a good, accurate football. I think last week he was 13-for-13, so he is accurate."
Cincinnati has the numbers, the matchup, and the betting market behind it. Miami still brings the history, and in this rivalry, that always keeps a little extra tension in the air.
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