Cincinnati kept rolling Saturday night, and the Bearcats did it by leaning right into who they’ve become. In a 31-26 win over Kansas State, the Bearcats moved to 4-0 in the 2026 season and turned in one of the stronger victories of the Scott Satterfield era.
The numbers told the story fast. Cincinnati piled up 271 rushing yards and averaged 7.6 yards per carry, hammering a Kansas State team that had entered the game as one of the top-30 teams in the country so far this season. The Bearcats’ ground game has been one of the defining traits of the early season, and it showed again under the lights.
"We were a physical team tonight. We had two backs that rushed for over 120 yards, just trying to impose our will running the football," Satterfield said.
"That was one of our goals. The second goal was to contain (Avery) Johnson.
He's a deadly weapon running the football, coming off a career-high 152 yards last week, and we did that. We were able to do that.
"We want him to attempt 50 passes and not run the football effectively. So I thought you know great adjustments by our defense in the second half. Did a great job of containing their offense."
Satterfield also pointed to the work up front and the way Cincinnati’s backs handled what Kansas State threw at them. The Wildcats crowded the box and brought their safeties down, but the Bearcats kept finding answers.
"Our line's done a really good job of creating some holes, and they've done a great job of finding those holes, and then making some cuts," Satterfield noted. "And like tonight, I mean, we're playing against a team that we knew coming in was going to bring their safeties down.
They were going to be in the box, and there's some extra hitters in there. They did a really nice job of making the cuts, making those safeties miss their gaps, and then extended some nice runs."
Now undefeated, Cincinnati turns the page to a road stretch that starts next week with an 11 p.m. ET kickoff at Arizona.
In Other News...
Bearcats Finally Look Like Scott Satterfields Team For Real
Cincinnatis 4-0 start has done more than fill up the standings column. It has given Scott Satterfield something every coach wants but does not always get this early in a rebuild: a team identity that is starting to show up every week. The win over Kansas State was the latest sign that the Bearcats are not just surviving early-season games, but leaning into a style that fits the personnel.
The offense has taken on a more physical edge, with Gi'Brian Payne and Cole Tabb helping set the tone on the ground, while the defense has looked more aggressive and willing to dictate the terms. There is still plenty of football ahead, but the early version of this team is looking less like a collection of pieces and more like a roster that understands how Satterfield wants to play. And even as football keeps building momentum, basketball practice under Jerrod Calhoun is already moving toward an upcoming scrimmage, a reminder that there is always another season waiting in the wings. [Read more 🡒]
Cincinnati Just Made The Kind Of Big 12 Statement Fans Needed
The Bearcats Big 12 opener brought the kind of early-season validation this fan base has been waiting for, with a road win over Kansas State that pushed Cincinnati to 4-0 for the first time since 2021. What stood out was how it got done: strong run blocking up front, a rushing attack that kept producing through GiBran Payne and Cole Tabb, and a team that stayed patient after falling behind early.
Cincinnati also showed a trait that matters in a conference where games can turn quickly, especially on the road. The defense settled in after halftime and the offense kept finding answers in the second half, giving the Bearcats a win that feels bigger than one Saturday in September and more like an early signal that this team belongs in the Big 12 conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Defense Faces A Brutal Big 12 Test In Tucson
Arizonas first Big 12 game of the season comes with an immediate measuring-stick challenge, as the Wildcats welcome unbeaten Cincinnati to Casino Del Sol Stadium on Oct. 3. The Bearcats arrive at 4-0 with a ground game that has given opponents problems, with Gi'Bran Payne and quarterback JC French helping drive an offense that can make a defense work from the opening snap.
For Arizona, which sits at 3-1, the matchup is less about the calendar and more about whether its defense can handle a physical conference opener right away. Kickoff is set for 8:00 PM PT on FOX, and even before the league race settles in, this one already has the feel of an early benchmark for how the Wildcats stack up in the Big 12. [Read more 🡒]