A week after Cincinnati sent a red-clad crowd into a frenzy with a 37-24 upset of No. 8 Texas Tech, the Bearcats are back at Nippert with another shot at a ranked heavyweight in No. 6 Utah.
The Utes arrive unbeaten at 7-0 for the first time since 2010, and they’re riding the longest active winning streak in FBS at 13 straight games. That run stretches back to Oct. 18 of last year, when Utah lost at BYU.
The next stop on that schedule is the “Holy War” on Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. Mountain Time in Salt Lake City, but first comes Halloween night in Cincinnati.
The Bearcats have been tough to beat at home. They are 4-0 at Nippert Stadium and 5-0 in Cincinnati overall, including the Victory Bell win over Miami University at TQL Stadium.
This matchup puts strength against strength in the run game. Cincinnati brings the nation’s No. 8 rushing offense at 234.6 yards per game, while Utah counters with the No. 8 rushing defense, giving up just 88.3 yards a game.
Texas Tech came into last week allowing only 82 rushing yards per game and no rushing touchdowns, and Cincinnati still rolled up 255 yards on the ground. Cole Tabb’s 58-yard run late sealed that one.
Utah’s offense leans on the ground too. The Utes rank No. 12 nationally in rushing at 221 yards per game, with Wayshawn Parker averaging 92 yards per game and quarterback Devon Dampier adding 49.7 yards on the ground. Backup quarterback Byrd Ficklin is another factor, since he can jump into the backfield at any time and averages 6.7 yards per carry.
One obvious path for Cincinnati is to strike first. Utah has been overwhelming in the opening quarter, outscoring opponents 75-3 in the first frame.
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Former Kentucky Players Are Making Some Departures Look A Lot Different
Kentuckys roster turnover has become easier to judge with a little distance, and the 2026 season is offering a revealing look at what some of those departures have meant elsewhere. The list of 38 former Wildcats now playing for other FBS programs shows just how widely the talent has scattered, with players turning up at new schools at every position and carving out roles that range from depth pieces to steady contributors.
For Kentucky, the interesting part is not just where those players landed, but how much they are playing once they got there. The article tracks their current schools, positions and production, and the range of impact makes the exodus look different depending on the name involved. Some departures have barely registered, while others have become much more noticeable reminders that roster management does not stop when a player leaves Lexington. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Biggest Question Before Kentucky Still Has No Clear Answer
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Josh Heupel said both quarterbacks are practicing well, but he stopped short of signaling any immediate change, leaving the competition open as Kentucky approaches. For Tennessee, the off week is a chance to sort through the options and try to find some stability before a game that could go a long way toward defining the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
What An Opposing Coach Already Sees In This Kentucky Team
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For Kentucky, that kind of early read from an opposing coach matters because it suggests the ceiling is still ahead of them. Exhibition games only tell part of the story, but Dawkins view was clear enough: this group has the pieces to grow into something more dangerous once the season gets rolling, even if the best version of the Wildcats is still to come. [Read more 🡒]