By: Jack Ritchie
The Bearcats have one of their most pivotal games of the 2024 season on Saturday. They are coming off a bye week last week and a tough 44-41 loss on September 28th. As October emerges for the team, however, a new opportunity emerges: the 3-2(1-1) Bearcats have a chance to pick up a big win over a talented Central Florida squad.
UCF, a team that was knocking at the door of the Associated Press’s top 25 just two weeks ago, has seen its record dwindle to 3-2 (1-1) after two straight losses. Playing against Travis Hunter’s Colorado Buffaloes and in the Swamp against SEC foe Florida is tricky.
The Knights’ offense struggled against the Gator’s defense, going 4-12 on third down, turning it over three times, throwing an interception, and getting stopped on fourth down twice. Don’t be fooled, though. UCF’s offense is one of the most productive in the country. Averaging 34 points and 489 yards per game, it’s going to be quite the challenge to contain KJ Jefferson and the Knights.
The defense, however, has been the main story for the Bearcats struggles just under halfway through the season. The struggles started after the defense blew a 27-6 lead against rival PITT earlier in the season. More recently, they also gave up 44 points to Texas Tech, and the concerns have grown even more significant. It is the third most points allowed by a Cincinnati defense since the 2018 season. Even after a shutout the prior week against Houston, the high hopes for the Cat’s defense were short-lived. UCF is, though, a turnover-prone offense with eight turnovers in five games. Will the Cats be able to make the big plays and get the turnovers the offense will need?
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati’s quarterback, has been everything we expected him to be this season. The six-foot-three sophomore has been incredible, throwing for 1,481 yards on 163 attempts. He sits fifteenth in the nation for passing yards through five games played.
In the Cats’ last game, Sorsby threw for 426 yards and four touchdowns (both career highs), but it was still not enough to overcome the late deficit against the Red Raiders. If the offense can produce at a consistent rate this weekend, it could lead to a victory.
The Bearcats are two plays away from being a 5-0 team up to this point. A field goal made by Pittsburgh with 17 seconds to go in the game and a missed field goal by UC with six seconds left in regulation against Texas Tech has been the only difference between two losses and an undefeated season. Even after the two losses, though, there are some positive aspects. Pittsburgh is undefeated and sits 22nd in the nation after the latest AP poll. Texas Tech is four and one and is one of the leaders in the Big 12, so the Bearcats have not lost to bad teams overall.
Cincinnati is heading into the heart of Florida as three-and-a-half-point underdogs ahead of their matchup on Saturday. A win from UC could be a big turning point in the season, putting them as one of the top teams in the conference. A loss, however, could start a downward spiral of losses as their schedule only gets tougher.
Saturday’s game will be streamed on ESPN 2 and will kick off at 3:30 p.m. The Bearcats will take on Arizona State 4-1(1-1) at Nippert Stadium next week for homecoming at noon.
