Texas Tech may be getting a helpful break before Saturday’s matchup with Cincinnati.
Bearcats running back Gi’Bran Payne showed up on the first injury report of the week and is listed as questionable after leaving last week’s loss to West Virginia with an ankle injury. Payne did not return.
He opened that game as Cincinnati’s leading rusher with 392 yards and two touchdowns on the season, but against the Mountaineers he was held to seven carries for 26 yards.
Even without him at full strength, Cincinnati still found plenty of room on the ground last week. The Bearcats rolled up 233 rushing yards against West Virginia, with junior Cole Tabb doing most of the damage. Tabb ran 15 times for 188 yards and two touchdowns, while senior quarterback JC French IV added 53 yards and a rushing score on 13 carries.
Cincinnati’s current injury report also lists NT Josh Hough as out, DL Nathan Nunn as out, and RB Gi’Bran Payne, S CJ Crite, and TE Devyn Zahursky as questionable.
Payne’s status matters because he and Tabb form the backbone of Cincinnati’s offense. The Bearcats average 231.2 rushing yards per game, which ranks 11th nationally, and they lean heavily into that identity. They run the ball 39 times per game and throw it 33.8 times per game.
That approach is also part of how Cincinnati tries to protect a defense that ranks 128th nationally in yards allowed per game. To keep the ball away from Texas Tech’s offense, the Bearcats will likely need Payne available and productive alongside Tabb.
The two backs have both cleared 400 rushing yards this season, but their roles are different. Tabb now has 448 yards to Payne’s 418, though Payne has carried the ball 20 more times. At 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, Tabb gives Cincinnati more of a big-play burst, while Payne, listed at 5-foot-10 and around 210 pounds, is the tougher inside runner who handles the dirty work between the tackles.
That makes Payne the kind of back Cincinnati needs in a run-heavy, ball-control game plan. If he can’t go, or if he’s limited, the Bearcats may have to change how they attack Texas Tech on Saturday.
In Other News...
BYU Just Added A New Threat To Its Big 12 Push
The Big 12 race has tightened at the midpoint, and the league still has three unbeaten teams left standing in conference and overall play. BYU has been one of the surprises of the season, and its win over Notre Dame only added to the sense that the Cougars are for real even while dealing with injuries. Houston also kept itself in the mix behind Conner Weigmans passing, while Texas Techs offense has shown signs of improvement as the Red Raiders try to stay relevant in a crowded race.
For Tech, the bigger picture is that the league has started to separate a little, with some teams climbing and others leaking ground fast. Oklahoma State, Baylor and Arizona State have all been hurt by recent losses and defensive issues, which only raises the stakes for every conference weekend from here. The Red Raiders still have room to push upward, but with BYU, Houston and the other contenders setting the pace, there is less margin for error than ever. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Has Early Fuel In A Ranking Debate Fans Hate
Texas Techs preseason buzz arrived quickly, with the Red Raiders landing at No. 19 in the AP Top-25 poll before a single meaningful game has been played. The ranking reflects the kind of anticipation that comes with a roster built around returning key pieces and reinforced by new transfers and freshmen, the sort of mix that can make October optimism feel a little more believable in Lubbock.
Now comes the part fans tend to argue about most: whether the hype is justified before the first test even tips. Texas Tech gets an early measuring stick in an Oct. 23 exhibition against Kentucky, then opens the official season Nov. 2, with bigger goals already in view - a conference title push and a run deep into March. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Techs JT Toppin Update Brings Hope And One Big Wait
JT Toppins recovery has given Texas Tech a reason to feel better about the weeks ahead, even if the wait is not over yet. Head coach Grant McCasland said the forward is ahead of schedule after his injury, a positive sign for a Red Raiders team that could use his presence as the season moves along. There is still a long way to go before he is back on the court, but the update at least points in the right direction.
McCasland also noted that Toppin would have redshirted this season if not for the NCAAs 5-for-5 eligibility rule, which keeps the door open for him to contribute later on. Texas Tech is expecting him to return sometime during the season, and his eventual availability could change the outlook in a meaningful way. For now, though, the Red Raiders are left watching his progress and waiting for the next step. [Read more 🡒]