Cincinnati’s 2026 outlook took a hit this week when FOX Sports analyst RJ Young slotted the Bearcats at No. 88 in his 1-138 FBS team rankings, a placement that puts them in the bottom 50 nationally.
That number stands out because most major analytic models are kinder to Cincinnati, with the Bearcats landing inside the top 60 in nearly all of them. Young’s ranking leaves them below teams such as Colorado State at No.
85, Eastern Michigan at No. 83 and Liberty at No. 68.
Young pointed to the uncertainty at quarterback and the makeup of the roster in explaining the spot.
"Scott Satterfield looks like he’s starting former Georgia Southern passer JC French IV, who has thrown for nearly 5,900 career yards and made starts at the FBS level (unlike Penn transfer Liam O’Brien)," Young wrote. "But both are decent options for a program that finished 7-6 and watched its two-year starter, Brendan Sorsby, elect to enter the portal last year.
But the roster is littered with former Group of Six players. That's fine… if Satterfield evaluated well.
If he didn't, seven wins might be hard to come by for the Bearcats."
If Cincinnati really did land in the bottom half of the FBS by season’s end, it would be a major problem for a program that appears to be moving closer to a critical stretch under Satterfield. For now, though, the Bearcats are not being viewed that harshly everywhere else.
Linebacker Jonathan Thompson said the group is not spending much time on outside criticism.
“I don't think we really worry too much about the noise because we always believe in each other. We work so hard that we feel like we're just going to pay off regardless of what people say, regardless of who we play,” Thompson said to the media earlier this month.
“Having a harder schedule is amazing. Because you get to go against good teams every weekend.
You get to prove yourself, so I don't think we use that as bulletin board material. We're just motivated in general."
Cincinnati’s first shot to challenge the projection comes Sept. 5 at home against Boston College. The tougher measuring stick arrives in November and bowl season, where the Bearcats are 1-11 in the Satterfield era.
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Bearcats Still Chasing A Final Backcourt Piece For Calhouns First Roster
Jerrod Calhoun is still piecing together his first Cincinnati roster, and the final backcourt spot appears to be one of the biggest remaining items on the board. The Bearcats are among several programs showing interest in a veteran guard with experience at both Michigan State and NC State, a player valued for his defense and steady play as Calhoun continues building mostly through the transfer portal with an eye on getting back to the NCAA Tournament.
The timing makes the pursuit tricky, since the player is waiting on an NCAA eligibility decision before his next move becomes clear. For Cincinnati, the appeal is obvious: a proven, experienced guard could help stabilize a new-look group, but the staff may have to wait a little longer before knowing whether this last backcourt piece can actually be added. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Are Counting On Two Early Signs As Camp Nears The End
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One of the early markers of progress is on the back end, where starting safety MJ Cannon has put a clear target on the groups shoulders by talking about a turnover-minded defense. On offense, JC French IV is working through a different kind of adjustment as he takes on new responsibilities, and the staff has been testing him in ways that come with the territory for a young quarterback learning on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Looks Like An Early Big 12 Test For Cincinnati
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For Cincinnati, that makes the matchup more than just another conference game in a new era. Arizonas mix of returning experience and unanswered questions on both sides of the ball gives the Bearcats an early measuring stick, one that could say plenty about where they stand in the Big 12 race once the season starts to unfold. [Read more 🡒]