Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s victory over Cincinnati, its first Big 12 conference win

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Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s victory over Cincinnati, its first Big 12 conference win

Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) intercepts a pass intended for the Cincinnati Bearcats and runs for a touchdown during the first half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brandon Judd · Deseret News

Sat, Sep 30, 2023 ·

11 min read

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The Deseret News is providing live coverage from Friday night's game between BYU and Cincinnati. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Final score

BYU 35, Cincinnati 27

BYU made the most of a pair of Cincinnati turnovers Friday night to earn its first Big 12 Conference victory by beating the visiting Bearcats.

Cincinnati possessed the ball for 10 more minutes than BYU and had 498 total yards to just 295 for the Cougars, but BYU turned two Bearcats turnovers into touchdowns — a reversal of when the Cougars gave up two defensive scores to Kansas last week.

A quick touchdown drive just before halftime also helped BYU shift momentum after an extremely slow start offensively.

Fourth quarter

BYU 35, Cincinnati 27

0:26 — Cincinnati has life after Braden Smith caught a 31-yard pass from Emory Jones with just under a half minute remaining. BYU 35, Cincinnati 27.

Chase Roberts, though, recovered the onsides kick attempt to wrap this one up.

12:41 — LJ Martin scored for the second time tonight, bulling his way in for a 1-yard touchdown run on a short drive set up by a turnover. BYU 35, Cincinnati 20.

The Cougars started the possession at the Cincinnati 15 to start the fourth quarter after Bearcats punt returner Braden Smith misjudged a bounce on a BYU punt, touched the ball and the Cougars' Austin Riggs recovered the ball.

Third quarter

BYU 28, Cincinnati 20

0:59 — Cincinnati marched down the field confidently, scoring on a 23-yard Chamon Metayer touchdown catch where he grabbed the ball falling down after it bounced off a defender's helmet. BYU 28, Cincinnati 20.

The Bearcats have answered each BYU touchdown in the second half with a score of its own, the only different being Cincinnati kicked a field goal on its previous drive.

2:53 — Kedon Slovis showed some nice moves, evading a pass rusher before throwing for Chase Roberts on a second-and-21. Roberts made the catch in double coverage, then ran the rest of the way — nearly 40 yards — on a 59-yard touchdown that put the Cougars back up two scores. BYU 28, Cincinnati 13.

After BYU's first four possessions of the game ended in punts, the Cougars have scored touchdowns on three straight drives.

5:24 — BYU kept Cincinnati out of the end zone on a third-and-goal, but Cincinnati added a 22-yard field goal from Carter Brown to make it a one-possession game. BYU 21, Cincinnati 13.

That was another long drive for the Bearcats, going 71 yards on 14 plays.

11:38 — BYU scored on its opening possession of the second half, as LJ Martin ran through a couple missed tackle attempts on a 29-yard touchdown run on a third-and-13 play. BYU 21, Cincinnati 10.

The Cougars defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half, and then the offense drove 73 yards on five plays. Kedon Slovis got the drive off to a good start, with back-to-back passes of 33 and 14 yards.

BYU fans critical of quality of end zone's royal blue paint job for Cincinnati game

First half

BYU 14, Cincinnati 10

Even though BYU's offense was largely nonexistent until the final minute of the first half, the Cougars have the lead thanks to an early pick-six from Jakob Robinson and a quick three-play TD drive in the final minute of the half.

Cincinnati possessed the ball for nearly 22 minutes in the first half and outgained BYU 254 to 107. The Bearcats also converted 6 of 11 third downs, while BYU was 1 of 5.

And somehow, the Cougars lead after Kedon Slovis completed three straight passes and hit Darius Lassiter for the go-ahead score.

Wild.

Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Kedon Slovis (10) catches a snap during a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Tyler Batty (92) sacks Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Emory Jones (5) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Chase Roberts scores a touchdown during the second half of a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Players warm up before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) runs for a touchdown after intercepting a pass intended for the Cincinnati Bearcats during the first half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars running back LJ Martin (27) runs past Cincinnati Bearcats defensive back Taj Ward (15). — Brigham Young Cougars running back LJ Martin (27) runs past Cincinnati Bearcats defensive back Taj Ward (15) during the first half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

BYU cheerleaders cheer before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

A BYU cheerleader cheers before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Cosmo and Bearcat interact before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Drummers perform before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The BYU Cougars enter the field to play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. — The Brigham Young Cougars enter the field to play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

BYU coach Kalani Sitake coaches from the sideline against Cincinnati at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Sept. 29, 2023. — Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake coaches from the sideline in a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

BYU players greet fans after winning a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Braden Smith (0) scores a touchdown as Brigham Young Cougars safety Ethan Slade (26) reaches for the ball during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Eddie Heckard (5) tackles Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Xzavier Henderson (8) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars running back Miles Davis (4) gets tackled by Cincinnati Bearcats safety Deshawn Pace (3) and Cincinnati Bearcats defensive end Eric Phillips (97) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars running back Miles Davis (4) runs past Cincinnati Bearcats defensive end Eric Phillips (97) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Cosmo plays a drum during a break in a football game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Performers spin fire during a break in a football game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Marcus McKenzie (32) tries to recover a muffed punt by Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Braden Smith (0) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars running back LJ Martin (27) runs with the ball as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Fans cheer as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The Brigham Young Cougars run onto the field to play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Keelan Marion (17) runs with the ball as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Chase Roberts runs for a touchdown during the second half of a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats. — Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Chase Roberts runs for a touchdown during the second half of a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

A fan cheers as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Cincinnati Bearcats running back Corey Kiner (21) gets tackled by Brigham Young Cougars safety Tanner Wall (28), Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Blake Mangelson (93) and Brigham Young Cougars safety Ethan Slade (26) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Second quarter

BYU 14, Cincinnati 10

0:06 — BYU moved the ball quickly and scored to regain the lead on a 22-yard Darius Lassiter catch in the final seconds of the first half. BYU 14, Cincinnati 10.

After Kedon Slovis had completed just 1 of 7 passes for 2 yards prior to this drive, he completed three straight passes — combined with a Cincinnati pass interference — for 69 yards on the three-play drive.

0:44 — Cincinnati turned a short field into points, as Carter Brown nailed a 33-yard field goal. Cincinnati 10, BYU 7.

The Bearcats started the drive at their own 42 after BYU was stopped deep in its own end of the field on the previous possession.

10:59 — Cincinnati marched down the field to tie the score, going 90 yards on 17 plays to score for the first time on the night on a Chamon Metayer 27-yard touchdown catch. BYU 7, Cincinnati 7.

The Bearcats converted 2 of 3 third-down attempts and a fourth-and-1 on the drive. Cincinnati has outgained BYU 162 yards of total offense to 29 so far in the game.

First quarter

BYU 7, Cincinnati 0

8:28 — The first points come by turnover — but this time (unlike last week), BYU was the one to score. The Cougars' Jakob Robinson picked off Cincinnati's Emory Jones on the Bearcats' first drive, taking the pick-six 42 yards for the touchdown. BYU 7, Cincinnati 0.

That is Robinson's third interception of the season.

Pregame prep

Here are a few stories to get you ready for BYU's game against Cincinnati:

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