As the college football season nears its August 29 start, the Cincinnati Bearcats are getting a blunt read from one expert.
Tim Kalinowski of Snapback Sports put out his 2026 College Football Sparknotes and slotted Cincinnati 14th in the Big 12, with the Kansas Jayhawks and Iowa State Cyclones ahead of them.
Kalinowski did have a positive take on likely starting quarterback JC French. He wrote, "In comes French, a two-year starter at Georgia Southern: 20 TDs, 8 picks, and 300 rushing yards. Can throw it a mile and uses his legs well, a natural scheme fit."
The concern, in his view, is what’s around him. Kalinowski said, "the skill positions are completely wiped out, losing their top RBs, including Tawee Walker, and top four pass catchers, including Cyrus Allen.
Notre Dame transfer Gi'Bran Payne and Zion Johnson (returner) will battle for carries." He was more optimistic about the offensive line, pointing to returners Evan Tengesdahl, Taran Tyo and Joe Cotton as part of what should be another strong group up front.
On defense, Kalinowski called it a "large overhaul," which he suggested could help after the unit’s inconsistency last season. He also noted that non-Power 4 transfers MJ Cannon from Bowling Green, Thomas Johnson from NC Central and Filip Maciorowski from Northern Illinois are expected to be major pieces for Nate Woody in his first year as Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator.
Still, Kalinowski’s bottom line was that the Bearcats are facing an uphill climb. "Coming off Satterfield's first bowl appearance here, the roster is gutted.
They did their best to patch the losses on offense and are overhauling the defense, but the talent just isn't there. Not to mention a really difficult Big 12 draw.
It would take a lot to find their way into another bowl game."
In Other News...
Bearcats Still Chasing A Final Backcourt Piece For Calhouns First Roster
Jerrod Calhoun is still piecing together his first Cincinnati roster, and the work has remained centered on the backcourt as he builds mostly through the transfer portal. The Bearcats are among several programs showing interest in a seasoned guard with a track record at both Michigan State and NC State, a player who has earned a reputation for defense and steady production while fitting the kind of experience-laden approach Calhoun has leaned into.
The timing, though, is tied to a bigger question than just fit or interest. Cincinnati is waiting along with the rest of the field on an NCAA eligibility decision that could shape where this veteran guard lands next, and until that gets sorted out, the Bearcats can only keep doing what they have been doing this offseason: chasing one more backcourt piece that could help make this new-look group more tournament-ready. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Looks Like An Early Big 12 Test For Cincinnati
Arizona arrives in the Big 12 conversation with enough proven pieces to look like an early measuring stick for Cincinnati, even before the schedule fully settles in. Quarterback Noah Fifita gives the Wildcats a steady presence at the most important position, while running back Kedrick Reescano adds another layer to an offense that already has enough returning talent to make opponents pay for mistakes.
For the Bearcats, that makes this one more than just another new-league matchup. Arizonas mix of established playmakers and a defense that still has some unknowns could tell a lot about where Cincinnati stacks up in a conference where there is little room to ease in, and it is the kind of game that can reveal both a teams ceiling and the holes it still has to patch. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Are Counting On Two Early Signs As Camp Nears The End
As fall camp winds down, the Bearcats are closing in on the kind of final scrimmage that can tell a staff a lot about where things stand before the season starts to take shape. Scott Satterfield has liked what he has seen from the defense, especially up front, where the defensive line has drawn praise for showing real improvement and helping a unit that has flashed more consistently as camp has gone on.
The more delicate evaluation is on the other side, where JC French IV is taking on new responsibilities and being asked to process a lot in a short time. Satterfields staff has pushed him through the usual camp growing pains, and the emphasis has been less on avoiding mistakes entirely than on making sure they turn into lessons, while safety MJ Cannon has set an ambitious tone for the defense by talking about creating turnovers. What happens in the final scrimmage will not settle everything, but it should offer one last look at whether those early signs are holding up. [Read more 🡒]