The Cincinnati Bearcats absolutely unloaded for 48 points in a row after Western Carolina tried to make it a game, ultimately swatting the Catamounts 62-10. For a minute there, in the second quarter, it felt a little too close for comfort, with Western Carolina creeping up to 14-10. But then, as the “Nipp at Night” game darkened, the Bearcats decided enough was enough and just went off.
JC French IV Is Flying High and the Offense Is Unleashed
Talk about an offensive explosion. After being limited to just 14 passes in their opener against Boston College, the Bearcats were all about the air game this time around. Quarterback JC French IV was slinging it, going 21-for-24 for a ridiculous 245 yards and two touchdown passes. That’s an 88% completion rate and a 200.8 quarterback rating, which is straight fire. You gotta be kidding me with those numbers! The entire offense put up a staggering 690 yards. They hadn’t even topped 600 yards since last year’s bludgeoning of Northwestern State, which was followed by a comeback road win at Kansas. It’s clear this unit is finding its rhythm, and it’s getting scary for future opponents.
Dominance on the Ground and a Perfect Start
It wasn’t just the air attack doing all the damage, either. Running back Gi’Bran Payne led the rushing game for a second week straight, hammering out 102 yards and finding the end zone twice. And over on the receiving side, JV Gibson was again the go-to guy, topping all receivers with five grabs for 79 yards and a score. This kind of balanced attack is what championship teams are built on. This win puts Cincinnati at a perfect 2-0 for the season. That’s the first time they’ve hit 2-0 since Scott Satterfield’s very first season back in 2023. Before that, you have to go back to 2021 when they were on their way to the College Football Playoff semifinal. We’re talking about a program with some serious history here, especially against lesser opponents. They are now 21-0 against FCS opponents since 2000 and 2-0 all-time versus Western Carolina, whom they hadn’t played since 2005. Western Carolina, by the way, drops to 1-2 and now stands at a brutal 0-65 when facing FBS opponents. They at least walked away with a $475,000 guarantee for showing up.
Being 2-0 with an offense putting up these kinds of numbers, especially French IV looking like he just stepped out of a video game, has to feel good. The Bearcats are showing they can handle a close call and then completely blow the doors off a game. What’s next? More of that pure offensive power and a drive to keep this perfect record rolling. This team is making a statement, and everyone is starting to notice.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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