MORGANTOWN, WV – The Cincinnati Bearcats beat West Virginia in possession time, complete yards, and passing yards on Oct. 17 at Milan Puskar Stadium, however nonetheless got here away with a 45-42 heartbreaking loss to the Mountaineers.
It might be the workforce with the ultimate possession successful and that workforce was the Mountaineers who stopped the Bearcats simply shy of the 2 minute timeout. UC pinned them on the 1-yard line on a punt by Max Fletcher, however West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. received out of a significant pickle with a Third-and-9 completion from the 2-yard line to Prince Strachan for 41 yards.
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Not lengthy after, WVU was in place to kick a 35-yard subject objective, and the Bearcats misplaced regardless of having six separate leads within the sport towards the Mountaineers. The ultimate rating was 45-42, placing West Virginia at 4-3 (1-3 Massive 12) and UC at 4-2 (1-2 Massive 12).
The Bearcats outgained the Mountaineers 622-598 and outrushed them 233-134, however very similar to their 2024 matchup at Nippert Stadium, WVU received the curious win.
“Nearly as good because it was stopping the run, it was that a lot unhealthy in passing (protection),” UC coach Scott Satterfield. “There was plenty of one-on-one alternatives and so they made the performs and we did not. We simply wanted somewhat one thing within the cross protection. We simply by no means may get the cease to stand up two (touchdowns).”
Oct 17, 2026; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (3) celebrates after working the ball for a landing throughout the second quarter towards the Cincinnati Bearcats at Milan Puskar Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Ben Queen-Imagn Photographs
Grading Cincinnati Enquirer’s predictions for Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers
We predicted a UC Bearcats street win.
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End result: When Cole Tabb scored his third landing of the sport on a 6-yard-run, UC had its sixth lead of the sport at 42-35. Sadly, West Virginia would tie lower than two minutes later, then lastly cease UC close to the two-minute timeout.
UC pins WVU on the 1-yard line, however Hawkins Jr. later makes them pay on a Third-and-9 from the 2-yard line with a 41-yard cross to Strachan to maintain the drive alive. Finally it is Cassidy with a 35-yard subject objective for a Homecoming win, 45-42. The sport was there to win and wasn’t.
We additionally predicted either side would have a 100-yard rusher.
End result: Nope. You’d have thought this could be simple, however UC held Hawkins Jr. to a season-low 77 yards on the bottom and Cam Prepare dinner, one of many nation’s prime runners, to 40 yards. Cole Tabb is available in for the injured Gi’Bran Payne to realize 118 yards to cowl UC, however the Mountaineers missed the century mark with their runners and solely had 134 dashing yards complete.
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We mentioned JC French IV must throw for over 200 yards.
End result: He did. French had a UC-best 389 yards, going 22-for-30 for 3 touchdowns. He once more had no interceptions. So, there’s one appropriate prediction. Predicting Michael Hawkins Jr. to throw for 464 yards would have been far-fetched, however he did, finishing 76% of his passes with a 223.9 quarterback ranking. French accomplished 73% for a 215.3 ranking.
Lastly, the over/below factors complete was 63.5, and the Bearcats and Mountaineers went over. We mistakenly predicted UC could be below that complete.
End result: Nicely, it wasn’t a great week for me to search for employment in Las Vegas. The Mountaineers and Bearcats mixed for 87 factors.
Bearcats quarterback JC French IV (4) runs up subject throughout g the primary quarter towards the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium Saturday, Oct. 17.
Overreactions from Cincinnati Bearcats at West Virginia
That is it! Clear home! UC Bearcats are 4-2
There are six video games to play and UC can both tank or assist themselves, with 4 of the six groups being ranked within the High 25. In school soccer, something can occur and on the identical day UC appeared to provide one away at West Virginia; a number of prime contenders additionally misplaced.
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High-ranked Georgia fell to unranked Auburn, No. 2 Notre Dame misplaced at No. 8 BYU, No. 6 Alabama misplaced at No. 14 Tennessee, unranked Florida beat No. 7 Texas, No. 9 Ole Miss smacked No. 13 Missouri, No. 22 LSU shut out No. 16 Mississippi State and No. 20 Houston beat No. 18 Oklahoma State.
There are a number of High 25 groups with two losses.
On the flip aspect, 4 of UC’s subsequent six video games are towards High 25 groups. The chance is there to sink or swim.
Bearcats broad receiver Malachi Henry (9) makes a catch and runs for additional yards throughout the fourth quarter towards the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium Saturday, Oct. 17.
UC’s protection is not any higher
Shutting down the No. 4 dashing offense, holding West Virginia to 134 dashing yards after they averaged 295, appears spectacular.
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Nevertheless, Michael Hawkins Jr. greater than doubled his finest passing numbers, throwing for 464 yards towards the Bearcats’ porous secondary. Accidents to nostril deal with Josh Hough and security MJ Cannon damage, however you’ll be able to’t problem a workforce to throw the ball after which get gashed like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady had been again there chucking spirals.
Enjoying at dwelling in Massive 12 is a bonus
UC had six leads and by no means trailed in Morgantown till the ultimate subject objective. On Oct. 3 in Arizona, they absolutely would have performed higher at Nippert, minus the 2 time zones of journey. Saturday, Oct. 17, the house workforce received in a lot of the Massive 12 video games. UC would be the determined underdog vs. Texas Tech and Utah within the coming weeks.
West Virginia had simply 48,160 of their 60,000-seat stadium, however it was Homecoming and the gang left comfortable. Oct. 24 is UC’s Homecoming. You is probably not pleased with this 4-2 workforce, however long-term Bearcat followers have suffered by way of far worse.
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Grading Cincinnati Bearcats at West Virginia Mountaineers
Total: C
This was a extremely winnable sport the place 42 factors ought to have been a lot to win. However odd issues occur on school gridirons on Homecoming and the Mountaineers capitalized on UC’s shoddy cross protection.
Offense: A-
Getting 389 yards passing from JC French IV most likely wasn’t prime of thoughts for many followers. And, UC outrushed the No. 4 dashing workforce within the nation. Their solely fault is just not changing late within the sport and permitting West Virginia another possession. In hindsight, most would agree that when it was 4th and three from the UC 33-yard line, it may need been wiser to have gone for the primary down than punt. Fletcher responded with a terrific punt, but when your secondary has holes, groups will discover them.
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Protection: C-
UC held Michael Hawkins Jr. and Cam Prepare dinner to season lows in dashing. They simply did not determine Hawkins Jr. would greater than double his career-high with 464 passing yards.
Particular Groups: C
Max Fletcher averaged 44.8 yards per kick and had the 66-yard punt, which ought to have helped UC win the sport. Nevertheless, he additionally had a 16-yard punt. UC had no yards in any respect within the return sport.
Bearcats working again Cole Tabb (3) runs for a landing throughout the fourth quarter towards the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium Saturday, Oct. 17. Tabb rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
Teaching: C-
UC’s defensive plan vs. the WVU run was efficient, however their cross protection had extra holes than a contemporary pack of Swiss cheese. With 2:05 to go and 4th down on their very own 33-yard line, it may need made sense to go for it reasonably than punt away because it was evident that the final workforce with the ball would win. The Bearcats gave away the ball, and the Mountaineers would solely want another likelihood. WVU scored on their final 4 possessions.
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Texas Tech makes their 1st go to to Nippert Stadium vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Saturday, Oct. 24, UC hosts the Texas Tech Raiders for the primary time. The groups performed to a 10-10 tie in 1968 in Lubbock after which once more there in 2024, with the Pink Raiders successful the shootout 44-41.
Brendan Sorsby threw for 426 yards and 4 touchdowns in that sport, then left to hitch Texas Tech final January. Reviews of previous playing points surfaced months later, and Sorsby was ultimately declared ineligible and shall be aiming for the NFL Draft subsequent April because the NFL declined to carry a supplemental draft over the summer time.
So, what appeared just like the “Sorsby Bowl” is not going to characteristic the previous Bearcats quarterback, however you’ll be able to guess there’s loads of unhealthy blood that can generate curiosity on this sport.
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Texas Tech went to 6-0 on Oct. 17 with a 53-25 win over Arizona State in Lubbock.
This text initially appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Grades, overreactions from UC Bearcats late loss at West Virginia
