Cincinnati Stumbles into Bowl Season After Blowout Loss to TCU: Sorsby Shines, Defense Struggles
CINCINNATI - The regular season ended with a thud for the Bearcats, who dropped their fourth straight game in a 45-23 loss to TCU. And while the scoreboard told one story, the Pro Football Focus grades painted a deeper picture of a team still searching for consistency - and perhaps a reason for hope heading into bowl season.
Let’s start with the positive: quarterback Brendan Sorsby continues to be the bright spot in an otherwise fading offensive campaign. He posted an 82.0 PFF grade against TCU, the highest on the team for the game and yet another reminder of the kind of talent he brings to the table. His season-long grade of 90.0 makes him the only Bearcat to crack that mark in 2025, and he finishes the regular season ranked as the 10th-best quarterback in the country by ESPN’s QBR (81.5).
That’s elite company - and it’s why Sorsby could be one of the most coveted names in the transfer portal if he chooses to explore that route. For now, he hasn’t committed to playing in the upcoming bowl game, and Cincinnati’s coaching staff is doing everything it can to give him a reason to stick around.
After the game, Sorsby addressed the team during a weather delay, delivering a message that reflected both leadership and realism.
“Even if you know you're graduating or thinking about going somewhere else… every rep matters,” he said. “We only have this team one time. We were a really close group, put in a ton of work together… but at the end of the day, even if you want to take the selfish route, you still have to perform and still have to display your talents out there.”
Sorsby’s words carried weight, but they couldn’t change the outcome. Cincinnati’s offense, outside of a few flashes, never found its rhythm against TCU.
Rounding out the top five offensive grades were Evan Tengesdahl (74.8), Patrick Gurd (73.4), Noah Jennings (69.4), and Gavin Gerhardt (67.6). Solid efforts, but not enough to keep pace with a Horned Frogs team that controlled the game from start to finish.
On the flip side, tight end Joe Royer had a night to forget. He posted a 49.6 overall grade, capping off his toughest season as a run-blocker (47.3 run-blocking grade in 2025). Joining him at the bottom of the offensive grading sheet were Elijah Jones (54.3), Isaiah Johnson (54.9), Cyrus Allen (56.2), and Gavin Grover (57.3).
Defensively, there were a few standout performances - but not nearly enough to slow down TCU. Jalen Hunt led the way with a 75.2 grade, followed by Simeon Coleman (72.1), Antwan Peek Jr.
(70.5), Jake Golday (70.1), and a pair of 69.7s from Daniel James and Rob Jackson. These six held their own, but the rest of the unit struggled across the board.
In fact, 12 Bearcat defenders graded out at 60 or lower, a stat that speaks volumes about how the game unfolded. Logan Wilson had the toughest night, finishing with a 35.6 grade after getting picked apart in coverage. Mikah Coleman (45.6), Tayden Barnes (50.1), Matthew McDoom (53.2), and Ormanie Arnold (53.8) rounded out the bottom five.
The secondary, in particular, has been a sore spot - and the transfer portal additions haven’t delivered as hoped. McDoom, once a reliable coverage asset, has seen his PFF grade dip to 65.4 this season after posting 78-plus marks in each of the last two years. He’s allowed 37 receptions this season - nearly matching the 39 he gave up combined over the previous two - and has just one interception to show for it.
Arnold hasn’t fared much better, and the struggles in the back end have consistently put pressure on a defense that’s already been stretched thin.
Now sitting at 7-5, Cincinnati will have one more opportunity to right the ship and close the year on a high note when bowl matchups are announced this Sunday. Whether that’s enough to keep Sorsby in town - or to build momentum heading into 2026 - remains to be seen.
But one thing’s clear: the Bearcats have work to do. The flashes are there.
The effort is there. But if this team wants to take the next step in the Big 12, it’s going to take more than a few standout performances.
It’s going to take consistency, depth, and a defense that can hold its own when it matters most.