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Cincinnati Bearcats pummel Western Carolina for 2-0 start
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- Cincinnati Bearcats pummel Western Carolina for 2-0 start
For just the second time in the Scott Satterfield era, the UC Bearcats have started a season 2-0 after pummeling Western Carolina , 62-10, at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Bearcats last opened with back-to-back wins during Scott Satterfield's inaugural season in 2023. UC then lost in overtime to the Miami RedHawks in Week 3 to begin a seven-game losing streak and ultimately ended the year 3-9 overall.
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In the weakest game on its schedule, UC's offense faced little resistance as the Bearcats improved to 21-0 against FCS opponents since 2000. The Bearcats nearly 700 yards of total offense and lit up the scoreboard in the program's 40th career "Nipp at Night" victory.
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After running for 255 yards in the season-opener against Boston College , the Bearcats turned quarterback JC French IV loose. The Georgia Southern transfer exited early after completing 21 of 24 throws for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Thirteen different Bearcats caught a pass.
As its lead grew, UC turned to its rushing attack with big results, running for over 400 total yards. Gi'Bran Payne led the way with 102 yards and two touchdowns. Zylan Perry and Cole Tabb combined for 148 yards, each running for a long score. Seven different Bearcats ran for a touchdown.
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Next week, they're at TQL Stadium for "The Battle for the Victory Bell" vs. the Miami RedHawks . UC finishes the stretch Sept. 26 with their opening Big 12 game against Kansas State .
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UC moves to 2-0 with blowout of Western Carolina | Cincinnati 62, Western Carolina 10, FINAL
10:11 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
Samaj Jones capped the scoring for the Bearcats with a four-yard touchdown run with 43 seconds remaining, UC's eighth rushing score of the game. UC is 2-0 for the first time in three seasons after a blowout win over Western Carolina. The Bearcats scored 41 unanswered points, had 690 total yards and notched a second-half shutout against the Catamounts. UC will play the Miami RedHawks at TQL Stadium next week.
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UC gets 1st takeaway of the night | Cincinnati 55, Western Carolina 10, 11:01, Q4
09:46 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
The game's first takeaway belongs to UC as outside linebacker Marqavious Saboor just made a diving interception off a pass from backup Western Carolina quarterback Isaac Lee .
Liam O'Brien has first touchdown with Bearcats | Cincinnati 55, Western Carolina 10, 11:51, Q4
09:41 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
Making his UC debut, Liam O'Brien is the latest Bearcat to find the endzone, running for an 11-yard score early in the fourth quarter. UC has now run 338 yards and six touchdowns as a team.
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UC changes quarterbacks heading into fourth quarter | Cincinnati 49, Western Carolina 10, END 3
09:33 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
JC French IV's night is done. He finished 21 of 24 for 245 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding 52 yards on the ground. Senior Liam O'Brien, a Penn transfer, is now in at quarterback for the Bearcats.
UC Bearcats pouring it on as Zylan Perry finds the endzone | Cincinnati 49, Western Carolina 10, 2:02, Q3
09:27 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC has run for 160 yards this quarter after Zylan Perry's 40-yard touchdown run capped off another swift touchdown run. The Bearcats have over 300 rushing yards for the game and are averaging 10.5 per carry.
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Gi'Bran Payne finds the endzone again | Cincinnati 42, Western Carolina 10, 5:03, Q3
09:17 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC needed just three plays to travel 73 yards in a 47-second touchdown drive. JC French IV opened the possession with a 56-yard strike to Malachi Henry. Two plays later, Gi'Bran Payne crossed the century mark on the night with his second touchdown run, this one from 17 yards out. Payne has now run for 102 yards on 12 carries. French is 20 of 23 for 238 yards and two scores.
UC defense forces turnovers on downs | Cincinnati 35, Western Carolina 10, 5:50, Q3
09:13 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
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Western Carolina drove inside the UC 30-yard line, but quarterback Lex Thomas had his third-down pass deflected and his fourth-down throw into the endzone was broken up near the pylon. The Bearcats are in full control as they take over at their own 27-yard line.
Gi'Bran Payne breaks longs touchdown run | Cincinnati 35, Western Carolina 10, 9:10, Q3
09:04 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC needed just two Gi'Bran Payne carries to add to its lead. Payne began the possession with a nine-yard run, then broke a few tacklers and outran the Western Carolina defense for a 40-yard touchdown one snap later. He now has a game-high 85 yards on 11 attempts.
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UC's defense gets a quick 3-and-out | Cincinnati 28, Western Carolina 10, 9:42, Q3
08:59 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
With solid open-field tackling, UC's defense got a quick three-and-out against the Western Carolina offense. UC will start at its own 49-yard line looking to extend its lead early in the third quarter.
UC punts for the first time | Cincinnati 28, Western Carolina 10, 11:31, Q3
08:54 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC started the second half with the ball but moved backward after three consecutive penalties. The Bearcats were backed up into a 2nd-and-37 from its own 8-yard line. Cole Tabb ran for 19 yards, then JC French IV got loose for eight but was tripped up from behind. It was the first third-down stop of the night for Western Carolina, which takes over at its own 12-yard line after a 53-yard Max Fletcher punt.
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Bearcats up big at the break | Cincinnati 28, Western Carolina 10, HALF
08:26 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC's offense has scored touchdowns on all four of its drives thus far with a good mix of run and pass. JC French IV is 17 of 18 for 169 yards and two touchdowns, completing passes to 10 different Bearcats. UC is also 6-for-6 on third down.
The rushing attack that was so prominent in Week 1 against Boston College has churned out 7.3 yards per carry with three players over the 30-yard mark. French leads the Bearcats with 44, Gi'Bran Payne ran seven times for 33 yards and Cole Tabb broke a 36-yard touchdown run.
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UC extends lead before the half | Cincinnati 28, Western Carolina 10, 0:38, Q2
08:22 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
JC French IV led UC down the field in a hurry, covering 85 yards in just over a minute. French hit JV Gibson on a 50-yard strike down the sideline, setting up Zion Johnson 's three-yard touchdown run. It's now a three-score game with less than a minute remaining in the first half.
UC with a chance to add to lead before halftime | Cincinnati 21, Western Carolina 10, 2:00, Q2
08:11 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
On the final play before the two-minute timeout, UC's defense forced a three-and-out. Western Carolina is set to punt coming out of the break as the Bearcats look to play add-on.
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Cole Tabb breaks long touchdown run for Bearcats | Cincinnati 21, Western Carolina 10, 3:00, Q2
08:06 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC's offense has found the endzone on all three of its drives thus far after Cole Tabb's 36-yard touchdown run. That was Tabb's first carry of the night. UC is averaging 7.4 yards per carry while JC French IV is 14 of 15 for 91 yards through the air.
Western Carolina answers with touchdown drive | Cincinnati 14, Western Carolina 10, 6:23, Q2
07:56 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
Western Carolina responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Lex Thomas. Thomas is 12 of 15 for 91 yards through the air and has 18 yards on five attempts on the ground.
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UC Bearcats take two-score lead over Western Carolina | Cincinnati 14, Western Carolina 3, 12:35, Q2
07:46 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC was denied twice at the goal-line before JC French IV's two-yard touchdown toss to a wide-open Lyviel Waters. It's the first career touchdown for Waters, a Winton Woods product. French is now 9 of 10 for 67 yards and two touchdowns. He's also run four times for 29 yards.
UC offense on the move at the end of first quarter | Cincinnati 7, Western Carolina 3, END 1
07:37 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
On the final play of the first quarter, UC quarterback JC French IV hit Malachi Henry for 14 yards to the Western Michigan 26-yard line. French is 7 of 8 through the air for 55 yards and a touchdown. He's completed a pass to seven different Bearcats. He also had a 14-yard run during this drive.
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UC defense forces a Western Carolina punt | Cincinnati 7, Western Carolina 3, 2:05, Q1
07:34 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
The UC defense gave up one first down but got a stop after edge rusher Thomas Johnson's pressure forced a third-down incompletion. UC will start from its own 25-yard line.
UC Bearcats march down the field for touchdown | Cincinnati 7, Western Carolina 3, 3:34, Q1
07:25 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC had no trouble marching down the field against the Western Carolina defense. The Bearcats got 31 yards from Gi'Bran Payne on the 13-play drive and 54 passing yards from quarterback JC French IV, who hit wide receiver JV Gibson for a five-yard touchdown.
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Western Carolina scores on opening drive | Western Carolina 3, Cincinnati 0, 9:30, Q1
07:13 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
Western Carolina drove 60 yards on 12 plays over six-plus minutes, setting up a 33-yard field goal by Bryan McCollum. Western Carolina quarterback Lex Thomas was 5 of 7 for 54 yards. UC's offense is up next.
UC Bearcats-Western Carolina ready for kickoff
07:00 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
The UC Bearcats just entered the field at Nippert Stadium for their Week 2 game against the Western Carolina Catamounts. UC won the toss and deferred. The Bearcats will kick off and defend the north endzone.
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Cincinnati Bearcats 2026 schedule
06:32 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
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Boston College – W 34-15
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Western Carolina, Sept. 12
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Miami RedHawks (at TQL Stadium), Sept. 19
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Kansas State, Sept. 26
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At Ariona, Oct. 3
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At West Virginia , Oct. 17
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Texas Tech, Oct. 24
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Utah, Oct. 31
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At Houston , Nov. 7
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At Iowa State, Nov. 14
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Colorado , Nov. 21
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At BYU, Nov. 28
Cincinnati Bearcats-Western Carolina kickoff remains scheduled for 7 p.m.
06:15 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
UC just announced the weather delay is expected to lapse and the game is still scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. from Nippert Stadium. Fans have started to enter the stadium and both teams are on the field warming up.
Cincinnati vs. Western Carolina injury updates
06:00 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
As mentioned last week, safety Ty Goodwill, a transfer from South Alabama, is out for the season with an Achilles injury. UC added safety D'Angelo Hutchinson from Louisville , who appeared in the Boston College win but had no stats.
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Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Western Carolina odds
05:45 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
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Spread:UC -36.5
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Moneyline:UC -10000, Boston College +2400
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Over/under:60.5
What TV channel is Cincinnati vs. Western Carolina on today?
05:30 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
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TV:ESPN+
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Streaming:plus.espn.com
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How to watch online:( here's how to stream it live )
Cincinnati Bearcats football in a weather delay
05:14 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
Due to lightning in the area, there is currently a weather delay at Nippert Stadium . According to a message on the videoboard, fans will be directed to Fifth Third Arena and TUC (Tangeman University Center) and will not be allowed inside the stadium until the delay is over.
What time does Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Western Carolina start?
05:04 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
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Date:Saturday, Sept. 12
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Time:7 p.m.
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Where:Nippert Stadium (38,088)
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Western Carolina predictions
04:59 PM ET, September 12 2026, Shelby Dermer
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Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer: UC 49-15
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Picks and Parlays: UC 48-17
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Bleacher Report: UC 48-6
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Dimers: UC 47-12
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Arizona Republic: UC 48-13
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Western Carolina weather
04:08 PM ET, September 12 2026, Scott Springer
The Weather Channel at 4 p.m. projected a 35% chance of rain, a 75-degree temperature, and winds from south to southwest at 4 miles per hour. The temperature is projected to fall to 70 degrees by midnight with a decrease in rain chance.
UC Bearcats punter Max Fletcher
After averaging 52.3 yards per punt, including a 70-yarder, Bearcats punter Max Fletcher was named to the Ray Guy Award "Ray's 8" list recognizing the top eight punting performances in Week 1. To boot, Fletcher caught an 8-yard pass from Malachi Henry on a fake punt play. Oddly, Fletcher is not on the 2026 Ray Guy Watch List , but UC officials have been told he could be an addition.
Boston College Eagles defensive back TJ Green (0) tackles Cincinnati Bearcats punter Max Fletcher (31) in the second quarter of the football game between Cincinnati Bearcats and Boston College Eagles at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Western Carolina Catamounts scorestream
UC Bearcats Ruckus named Big 12 Monster Energy Student Section of Week
03:59 PM ET, September 12 2026, Scott Springer
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats pummel Western Carolina for 2-0 start
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