Scott Satterfield didn’t waste much time getting to the point in Frisco: Cincinnati’s offensive line, in his view, is a strength that can carry the Bearcats again.
On the second day of the Monster Energy Big 12 Media Days in Texas on Wednesday afternoon, Satterfield and four Cincinnati players - JC French IV, Taran Tyo, Evan Tengesdahl and Antwan Peek Jr. - were part of the league’s annual spotlight. For Satterfield, the message from his opening statement was clear. Cincinnati is heading into its fourth season in the Big 12 with momentum, and the work up front is a big reason why.
The Bearcats have climbed every year since entering the league, going 3-9 in 2023, 5-7 in 2024 and then 7-6 last season. That 2025 run included a 7-1 start and a stretch that pushed Cincinnati as high as No. 17 in the rankings.
But the headline from Satterfield’s comments was the group in the trenches.
"I think we have one of the best offensive lines in the country," said Satterfield.
That confidence is backed by a returning core. Cincinnati brings back three starters on the offensive line, including Taran Tyo and Joe Cotton, both of whom were named to the preseason All-Big 12 team, along with Evan Tengesdahl, who is listed as the highest rated LG in EA Sports College Football 27 with a 93 rating.
Satterfield made it clear this is more than just a talented unit. He pointed to the leadership that comes with it, too.
"Last year we were one of the top offensive lines, and a lot of those guys are back. Not only are they great players, but they are great leaders on our team."
The numbers from last season back up the praise. Cincinnati allowed only 8 sacks, which ranked second behind Army, whose quarterback threw the ball just seven times per game on average last season. The Bearcats also gave up 43 tackles for loss, the best mark in Power 4 and top-3 nationally.
That front helped fuel an offense that averaged 5.7 yards per carry, good for third nationally, and 6.9 yards per play, which ranked tenth nationally. Cincinnati also finished with a top-45 scoring offense and a top-50 yardage offense.
Satterfield is expecting another big year, and the Big 12 has reason to take notice. The Bearcats already showed what they could do last season, and with so much back up front, they enter this year looking even stronger where it matters most.
In Other News...
Bearcats Lineman Sends Strong Message About Cincinnati's New Quarterback
With Brendan Sorsby gone and a new season already taking shape under Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati has spent the spring sorting out what its offense will look like in 2026. The most important transition is at quarterback, where transfer JC French IV has stepped into the mix after arriving from Georgia Southern, and the early read from inside the building has been encouraging. Offensive lineman Evan Tengesdahl has been among the players watching that change up close, and the Bearcats are leaning on a front that returns key pieces from a group that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award.
For Cincinnati, the lines continuity matters almost as much as the quarterback change itself. If the Bearcats are going to keep pace with or improve on last seasons offensive production, French will need time, trust and a room full of veterans who can help him settle in quickly. Spring workouts are only part of the picture, but they have already given the Bearcats a first look at how the new quarterback fits into a unit that expects more from itself in 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Jerrod Calhoun Is Lining Up Another Major Test For Cincinnati
Jerrod Calhoun is still putting his stamp on Cincinnatis non-conference future, and the latest step is a home-and-home series that would give the Bearcats another sturdy measuring stick before league play begins. The deal is agreed to in principle, which keeps it from being fully official just yet, but it fits the kind of scheduling approach Cincinnati has been building around: challenging games, recognizable opponents and a slate that should tell a lot about where the program stands.
The series also reflects the behind-the-scenes work that often shapes these matchups, with John Cunningham and Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle helping move it along. Minnesota has been active on the roster front and has shown enough recent progress to make this a worthwhile test, and it adds another layer to a non-conference schedule that already has plenty of familiar pressure points for Cincinnati. [Read more 🡒]
NCAA Eligibility Fight Could Suddenly Impact Cincinnatis Roster Plans
A Hamilton County court ruling could ripple into Cincinnatis roster planning in a hurry, as the NCAAs new five-to-play-five eligibility model faces another legal challenge from a group of basketball players in the high school Class of 2022. The dispute centers on whether athletes who have already used up eligibility under the old system should be barred from getting another year, and it has already created uncertainty for programs trying to map out their transfer options.
For the Bearcats, the timing matters because the transfer market is still taking shape and any change in who can enter it can alter the board quickly. A pretrial conference is set for August 4, and until then Cincinnati and other programs will be watching closely to see whether the case opens the door for more players to pursue one more season, or whether the NCAAs new framework holds firm. [Read more 🡒]