Cincinnati’s offensive line opened the season with a statement, and the Big 12 took notice.
The Bearcats were named the conference’s Offensive Line of the Week on Monday afternoon after powering a Week 1 win over BC. The group, anchored by preseason All-American left guard Evan Tengesdahl, center Taran Tyo and left tackle Joe Cotton, controlled the line of scrimmage from the jump.
Cincinnati’s front cleared the way for 254 rushing yards on 46 carries, good for 5.5 yards per attempt, while allowing just one sack. That kind of production showed up everywhere in the box score. Gi'Bran Payne topped 100 rushing yards in his Bearcats debut, and quarterback JC French added three short-yardage touchdowns while going a perfect 4-for-4 in the red zone, with all four scores coming on touchdowns.
The run game stayed balanced throughout the night. French and all four running backs in the rotation each finished with at least 20 rushing yards, marking the first time Cincinnati has had five players reach that mark in the same game since the 2024 season opener against Towson.
The right side of the line also had fresh faces in the mix. Right tackle Judea Milon and right guard Xavier Lozowicki both made their first career starts to complete the unit.
By the team’s official pancake counter, Cincinnati’s offensive line piled up 47 knockdown blocks in Week 1.
This isn’t new territory for the Bearcats, either. Last season, Cincinnati’s offensive line won the conference Offensive Line of the Week three times.
Cincinnati hosts six games at Historic Nippert Stadium this fall, beginning with Boston College on Sept. 5 and Western Carolina on Sept. 12.
Big 12 opponents Kansas State, Texas Tech, Utah and Colorado are also scheduled to come to Nippert, with the Bearcats’ 100th Homecoming game against Texas Tech set for Oct. 24.
In Other News...
Jizzle James Return Talk Just Took A Troubling Turn
Jizzle James path has already veered through more than one unexpected turn since his exit from the University of Cincinnati program in 2025, when personal issues led to his removal before he was later reinstated and able to finish the 2025-26 season. After entering the transfer portal, he committed to Charlotte, only to leave before playing a game, and then stirred speculation with social media posts hinting at a return to Cincinnati.
The latest development made the situation feel far more serious than a simple roster-watch storyline. Cincinnati responded with a cease-and-desist letter after those posts, while his father, Edgerrin James, publicly said Jizzle is battling substance abuse and asked people to support him without giving money or valuables. For Bearcats followers, the basketball angle is now tangled up with a much bigger off-court concern, and the next step remains unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Max Fletcher Is Giving Cincinnati A Special Teams Weapon To Watch
Max Fletcher gave Cincinnati an early special teams boost in its season-opening win over Boston College, and the performance was strong enough to earn him a spot on the Ray Guy Awards Rays 8 list for Week 1. The Augusta Sports Council uses the weekly list to highlight the top punting efforts in the FBS, and Fletchers day stood out for more than just field position.
He averaged 52.3 yards per punt and flipped the field with a 70-yard boot, while also helping the Bearcats keep a drive alive with a successful fake punt conversion. If he keeps punting at this level, Fletcher could put himself in position to chase the schools career average record, giving Cincinnati something beyond the usual hidden-yardage advantage to watch every week. [Read more 🡒]
JC French IV Faces A Big Chance To Silence One Bearcats Concern
The Bearcats leaned on the ground game against Boston College, and it worked exactly as designed. Cincinnati rolled up 254 rushing yards on 46 carries, which helped take pressure off quarterback JC French IV, whose day through the air was much quieter with 77 passing yards and one touchdown. In the wake of that performance, head coach Scott Satterfield and French both addressed the passing game in a media session, with the offense still looking for a better balance as the schedule moves on.
French now gets a fresh chance to show that the passing attack can do more than just complement the run, starting with a night game against Western Carolina. He has already sounded upbeat about getting the wide receivers more involved, and that is exactly the kind of step Cincinnati would like to see after opening the season with a one-dimensional feel. The run game has carried its weight, but the Bearcats would much rather have the next stretch settle a lingering concern instead of keep it hanging over the offense. [Read more 🡒]