The Cincinnati Bearcats upset No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24 on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Nippert Stadium, grabbing the lead in the second quarter and never looking back in what reports called the biggest win of head coach Scott Satterfield’s era at Cincinnati.
Quarterback JC French IV threw for three touchdowns in the second quarter to give Cincinnati a 24-6 halftime lead. He finished 19-of-29 passing for 172 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, and also ran for 46 yards.
Four different Bearcats caught touchdown passes from French. Cole Tabb scored first, followed by Malachi Henry, Lyviel Waters, and Larenzo Fenner, whose touchdown in the third quarter gave Cincinnati a commanding 31-15 lead.
Tabb also powered the rushing attack, running for a career-high 173 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that capped the upset.
Cincinnati’s defense held Texas Tech to six first-half points and forced the Red Raiders to settle for four field goals while the outcome was still in the balance. The Bearcats forced three turnovers on the day, and edge rusher Patrick Bauer recorded a sack of Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond in the second quarter.
The win moves Cincinnati to 5-2 on the season. Texas Tech arrived in Cincinnati unbeaten at 6-0 and ranked No. 8, making Saturday’s result a signature home win for the Bearcats at Nippert.
Cincinnati entered the game having dropped two straight and sitting 4-2 overall, and the victory over a top-10 opponent restores momentum as the Bearcats move into the second half of their Big 12 schedule.
Photo: Ben Levin, CC BY-SA 4.0