Max Fletcher’s opening statement for Cincinnati came with plenty of pop, and now the Bearcats punter has earned national recognition for it.
Fletcher was named to the Ray Guy Award “Ray’s 8” list for Week 1, an honor announced by the Augusta Sports Council and reserved for the eight best punting performances in the FBS each week.
The Melbourne, Australia native was a steady force in Cincinnati’s 34-15 season-opening win over Boston College, averaging 52.3 yards per punt. His biggest strike traveled 70 yards, landing just one yard short of his career best of 71. Fletcher also helped flip the field late in the third quarter by pinning Boston College at its own 4-yard line.
He was part of one of the game’s most important momentum swings, too. In the second quarter, wide receiver Malachi Henry threw an eight-yard pass to Fletcher on a fake punt to move the chains on fourth down, and Cincinnati later finished that drive with a touchdown. It was the Bearcats’ first completed pass by a non-quarterback since Braden Smith connected with Dee Wiggins for 30 yards against Pitt in 2023.
Through 45 career punts at Cincinnati, Fletcher owns a 46.0-yard average. If he gets five more punts to hit the 50-punt minimum, he’ll be eligible to pass two-time All-American Kevin Huber’s school record of 45.47 yards per punt from 2005-08, as long as he keeps producing at this pace.
Cincinnati’s home slate continues at Historic Nippert Stadium, where the Bearcats have six games this fall. Western Carolina visits on Sept. 12 after Boston College on Sept. 5, and Big 12 opponents Kansas State, Texas Tech, Utah and Colorado are also set to come to Nippert. The Homecoming game against Texas Tech on Oct. 24 will be Cincinnati’s 100th Homecoming game.
In Other News...
Jizzle James Return Talk Just Took A Troubling Turn
Jizzle James path since leaving the University of Cincinnati has already been messy enough to keep Bearcats fans watching closely. After being removed from the program in 2025 because of personal issues, he later was reinstated and finished the 2025-26 season, then entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed to Charlotte before leaving without playing a game. The back-and-forth has only added to the uncertainty around one of the more complicated recent storylines to touch the program.
The latest wrinkle came when James posted on social media in a way that suggested a return to Cincinnati, a move that prompted the university to send a cease-and-desist letter. His father, Edgerrin James, then said publicly that Jizzle is battling substance abuse and asked for support rather than money or valuables, a reminder that the situation is about much more than roster drama. For Bearcats followers, the lingering question now is how this story settles, and whether any reunion talk ever had real traction in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
JC French IV Faces A Big Chance To Silence One Bearcats Concern
A rugged ground game carried the Bearcats through Boston College, but the offense still left the passing attack as the lingering question. Cincinnati rolled up 254 rushing yards on 46 carries, while JC French IV and the air game were asked to do just enough, finishing with 77 passing yards and one touchdown. After the game, French and Scott Satterfield both addressed the need to keep building through the air, a point that matters as the season begins to settle in.
Now the Bearcats turn to a night matchup with Western Carolina and a chance for French to make the passing game look a lot more complete. French said he is optimistic about getting the wide receivers more involved, and that is exactly the sort of development Cincinnati will want to see after leaning so heavily on the run. If the Bearcats can show balance in this one, it would go a long way toward quieting one of the early concerns hanging over the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Opener Takes An Ugly Turn Fans Will Be Debating
Boston Colleges 2026 opener against Cincinnati was already trending the wrong way on the field before the mood turned ugly in the stands. The Bearcats put together a fast start and never let the Eagles settle in, as JC French powered the offense with a strong rushing performance while Boston College spent much of the afternoon trying to recover from its own mental mistakes.
The game finished with a late push from the Eagles, but the bigger aftershock for fans came away from the scoreboard. A viral video from the stadium showed a fight between two Boston College fans in the stands, adding an uncomfortable sidelight to a season opener that was supposed to set a better tone. [Read more 🡒]