Cincinnati’s offensive line is getting early national attention, and two Bearcats are already on the Outland Trophy Watchlist for 2026.
Left guard Evan Tengesdahl and left tackle Joe Cotton both landed on the list, which honors the nation’s top interior offensive lineman. The selection puts Cincinnati in a pretty exclusive spot, as one of just 16 schools with multiple players on the watchlist.
Tengesdahl arrives with serious momentum. Pro Football Focus graded him as the highest-rated guard in college football last season, and his 82.8 overall mark helped him earn third-team AP All-American recognition. He’s being framed as Cincinnati’s best player heading into the new season.
Cotton was just as important on the edge. He started all 13 games at left tackle last year and posted a 69 overall Pro Football Focus grade across 711 snaps. Together, he and Tengesdahl are expected to form the backbone of the Bearcats’ left side, with Taran Tyo set to start at center and competition still unfolding on the right side of the line.
That continuity is a big reason Cincinnati is drawing notice up front. As head coach Scott Satterfield put it last month, "Last year we were one of the top offensive lines, and a lot of those guys are back," Satterfield said.
"So, not only great players, but they're great leaders on our team, and head that locker room up, and then I think probably the next thing. Just really excited about Coach (Nate) Woody coming in to be our defensive coordinator, so that's going to be a change defensively over the last couple of years.
Coach Woody and I were together at Appalachian State for five seasons, did an outstanding job there, and had a great run at Army the last six years, so I'm excited about what he'll be able to bring to our defense."
The Outland Trophy itself carries a long history. It’s the third-oldest major award in college football and is entering its 81st season.
Former Penn All-American lineman Dr. John Outland launched it in 1946.
The next checkpoints are already on the calendar: semifinalists will be announced Nov. 18, three finalists on Nov. 24, and the winner will be revealed on ESPN in December. The trophy presentation follows at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner on Jan. 27, 2027, in Omaha, Neb.
In Other News...
Bearcats Fall Camp Opens With Crucial Jobs Still Up For Grabs
Fall camp opens Aug. 5 with the Bearcats still sorting through some of the most important spots on the roster, and the early checklist starts up front. Cincinnati expects Evan Tengesdahl, Joe Cotton and Taran Tyo to be in the mix as projected starters on the offensive line, while the cornerback group has a few new and familiar names trying to separate themselves as camp gets going.
The backfield is just as unsettled, with Zion Johnson, Gi'Bran Payne and Zylan Perry all part of the running back competition that will shape how the offense looks once the season begins. Jonathan Thompson also enters camp with a bigger responsibility after departures to the NFL thinned the linebacker group, giving the Bearcats another important evaluation point as they sort out roles over the next few weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Cincinnatis New Look Already Gave Bearcats Fans A Reason To Believe
A first exhibition under the new-look Cincinnati mens basketball roster offered plenty for Bearcats fans to like, and the most encouraging part was how quickly the pieces seemed to fit. In a 110-63 rout of the Victoria Vikings at the Baha Mar Summer League, Cincinnati looked active, efficient and deep, shooting 52% from the floor while turning the game into a track meet the other way by forcing 32 turnovers.
The scoring balance stood out just as much as the margin, with seven Bearcats finishing in double figures. MJ Collins led the way with 15 points, while Adlan Elamin added 14 points and eight rebounds, giving Cincinnati a glimpse of the kind of production it will need as the games start to count for real and the rotation begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]