The Cincinnati Bearcats are approaching a crossroads in their membership in the Big 12 conference in 2025.
Cincinnati has not had much success since it entered the Big 12 for the 2023 season. Now entering its third year, the biggest development in the football program is the recent opening of its incredible new football facility. The facility puts the program on the upper echelon of the league.
Now, the Bearcats have to put together a season that matches the quality of the Sheakley Athletic Center.
Cincinnati went 5-7 and 3-6 in Big 12 play last season. It was the Bearcats’ second straight season without a bowl game under coach Scott Satterfield. It’s safe to say that his seat is just a bit warm after going 8-16 in two seasons since replacing Luke Fickell. The good news is last year was a two-win improvement.
Lindy’s Sports recently published its preview for the Big 12, including the Bearcats. Heartland College Sports will weigh in with our previews later this summer.
The magazine picked Cincinnati to finish 11th in the Big 12. Here are three thoughts on the preview.
FIXING THE SCORING ISSUES
It’s quite easy to forget that in mid-October of last year the Bearcats were pointed toward a bowl game. They were 5-2 after seven games and it just fell apart.
Why? Well, there are plenty of reasons. Lindy’s did point out the scoring issues Cincinnati encountered late in the season. The Bearcats averaged 19.3 points per game in their final seven games. Cincinnati never scored more than 24 points in any of those games — and somehow it beat Arizona State, 24-14. That was Cincy’s last win of the season.
For the year, the Bearcats averaged 25.2 points per game, which was good for only No. 89 in FBS.
Lindy’s touted the transfer class as necessary juice for an offensive turnaround, including four wide receivers. But only one has power conference experience — Texas A&M’s Cyrus Allen.
Holdover quarterback Brendan Sorsby should have weapons. But Cincinnati will be asking a lot of new receivers.
SOME DEFENSIVE CONTINUITY
The Bearcats’ defense has a lot going for it in the estimation of Lindy’s. Defensive coordinator Tyson Veldt is in his second season and his scheme is now fully installed.
There are holdover players, both returning starters and two-deep players, that understand his 3-4 scheme. Dontay Corleone is a full go. At this time last year, the nose tackle was dealing with a blood clot — and he still returned to earn All-Big 12 first-team honors.
The unit was middle of the road last year. The Bearcats are moving around a lot of pieces in the secondary. Cincinnati is hoping that bringing in a transfer with NFL bloodlines — Christian Harrison, son of NFL All-Pro Rodney Harrison — will help at safety.
But, more than anything, this defense must create more turnovers. The team operated at a minus-4 turnover margin last year. That was tied for 92nd in FBS last year.
THE HOT SEAT
Lindy’s didn’t really address Satterfield’s job security in the team preview. Nor did the magazine address is elsewhere. But it’s safe to say his seat must be a bit warm.
Why? He took over for Fickell, who led the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff and took an obvious promotion to Wisconsin a season later. Satterfield’s four years at Louisville were, frankly, mediocre. He went 25-24 in four seasons and then he took the Cincinnati job.
Yes, Cincinnati was migrating to the Big 12 by then. But remember the last time a sitting coach at a power conference program left for Cincinnati? Tommy Tuberville lasted four years and had the benefit of leading the Bearcats to back-to-back 9-4 seasons to start his tenure. ‘
This may not be Satterfield’s make-or-break season. But progress — and a bowl game — is an absolute need.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
