Cincinnati climbing in Big 12, inexperience and tough schedule loom large for Satterfield's team

CINCINNATI (AP) — 2025 record: 7-6

The Bearcats have steadily improved since joining the Big 12 in 2023, including reaching a bowl game last season for the first time since 2022. However, late-season struggles the past two years have put coach Scott Satterfield on the hot seat. Cincinnati was 7-1 and ranked 16th in the AP poll before losing their final five games last year.

Once again, Cincinnati had to do a massive rebuild of the roster, especially at the skill positions. The only saving grace for the offense is that it has one of the top offensive lines when it comes to Power Four programs. Defensive coordinator Nate Woody was brought in from Army and will run a 3-4 scheme charged with rushing the quarterback instead of dropping eight into coverage.

The Bearcats will have one of the toughest schedules in the Big 12. They host No. 12 Texas Tech and 21st-ranked Utah but also go on the road to face No. 14 BYU and No, 23 Houston. It could come down to the UC's final home game against Colorado on Nov. 21 to determine if the Bearcats will be bowl eligible and Satterfield will return for a fifth season.

The offensive line has three potential Day 2 NFL draft picks in left guard Evan Tengesdahl, left tackle Joe Cotton and center Taran Tyo. Tengesdahl is a preseason AP All-America and the leader of the group. The Bearcats allowed only eight sacks last season, second-fewest in the FBS.

While the defense lost most of its starters, it does return its two best players from last year in Antwan Peek Jr. and Johnathan Thompson. Peek is moving to an outside linebacker spot so that he can rush the passer more while Thompson had 8 1/2 tackles for loss last season.

If Cincinnati gets involved in a battle of field position, punter Max Fletcher is back after averaging 45.4 yards per punt last season and being named to the All-Big 12 second team.

Satterfield once again has a situation where he has a new quarterback, running back and receivers. Georgia Southern transfer JC French IV doesn't have the dual threat capabilities that Brendan Sorsby had, but he did throw 20 touchdown passes against eight interceptions last season.

French will also need to make sure the offense can have longer drives. The Bearcats were last in the FBS in time of possession, averaging less than 25 minutes per game. They were also last in first-downs allowed.

QB JC French IV (transfer from Georgia Southern), EDGE Thomas Johnson, (transfer from North Carolina Central), WR Cade Wolford (transfer from Kent State), LB Filip Maciorowski (transfer from Northern Illinois), WR WR JV Gibson (transfer from Oklahoma).

QB Brendan Sorsby (transferred to Texas Tech then ruled ineligible by NCAA due to gambling), S Christian Harrison (transferred to Arkansas), LB Jake Goldway (NFL), WR Cyrus Allen (NFL), TE Joe Royer (NFL).

Vs. Kansas State (Sept. 26), vs. No. 12 Texas Tech (Oct. 25), at No. 14 BYU (Nov. 28).

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FILE - Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield walks the sideline before the start of play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, on Oct. 19, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar, File)

FILE - Cincinnati linebacker Jonathan Thompson (22) during an NCAA collage football game on Sept. 27, 2025, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)

FILE - Georgia Southern quarterback JC French IV (12) looks to pass during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game against James Madison on Sept. 27, 2025, in Harrisonburg, Va. James Madison won 35-10. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher, File)

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — 2025 record: 9-4

TCU coach Sonny Dykes isn’t satisfied with back-to-back nine-win seasons.

“I think we’ve been pretty good,” Dykes said. ”Being great really is about reaching your potential as a team, and I don’t think we’ve done that in the last three years.”

The Horned Frogs, who made the national championship game in Dykes’ first season, are going into his fifth with a new quarterback and two huge departures from the middle of the defense after both starting linebackers in their 4-2-5 scheme were NFL draft picks.

While trying to get to their first Big 12 championship game since 2022, the Frogs need Harvard transfer QB Jaden Craig and the offense to be efficient and effective. Craig comes in with new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis, whose UConn squad last year had only two turnovers while averaging 445 total yards and 35 points a game. TCU had multiple turnovers in all four of its losses last year.

Josh Hoover threw for 9,627 yards, 71 TDs and 33 interceptions the past three seasons at TCU before transferring to reigning national champion Indiana to succeed Heisman Trophy-winning QB and NFL No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza.

The Frogs open the season Aug. 29 against North Carolina in Ireland. They beat the Tar Heels in coach Bill Belichick’s debut last season.

Craig, a 24-game starter at Harvard who set school passing records last season, has some talented returning skill players around him.

Running back Jeremy Payne ran for 476 yards in the final five games last season, and scored the game-winning TD in the Alamo Bowl for TCU on a 35-yard catch-and-run in overtime against Southern Cal when breaking multiple tackles. Returning receiver Jordan Dwyer (54 caches, 730 yards and seven TDs) will have an even bigger role after the departure of 1,190-yard receiver Eric McAlister.

In front of Craig will be potentially one of the Big 12’s top offensive lines, led by left tackle and third-year starter Ben Taylor-Whitfield (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) and a couple of other returners. The Frogs also added big transfers, including 6-4, 330-pount guard Noah McKinney (from Oklahoma State) and center/guard Jaheim Buchanon, a 25-game starter at FIU the past two seasons.

While the Frogs return third-year starting safety Jamel Johnson (96 tackles and Big 12-high five interceptions) and most of their defensive line, there are plenty of changes on defense.

Max Carroll, a fourth-year junior with one career start, is now the leader in the linebacker room. Michael Short, who could start with Carroll, played only four games at Virginia Tech last season.

In the secondary, Vernon Glover Jr. is coming back from a knee injury, while the Frogs also brought in several defensive backs through the portal.

Craig (transfer from Harvard), CB Teon Parks (transfer from Colorado), WR Jeremy Scott (transfer from FIU), TE Kari Ashley (transfer from Navarro Junior College).

Safety Bud Clark (drafted by Seattle), LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr (drafted by Buffalo), QB Josh Hoover (transferred to Indiana), WR Eric McAlister, LB Namdi Obiazor (drafted by New England).

vs. No. 14 BYU (Oct. 3), vs. No. 21 Utah (Nov. 21), at No. 12 Texas Tech (Nov. 26).

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FILE - TCU head coach Sonny Dykes walks the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Houston, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, file)

FILE - TCU running back Jeremy Payne (26) celebrates with teammates after he ran for a touchdown against Southern California during overtime in the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)