Cincinnati pulled off another stunning second-half comeback, taking down Kansas State 31-26 in their Big 12 opener at Nippert Stadium and pushing their season record to a perfect 4-0. For the second week straight, the Bearcats came from behind at halftime, proving they can flip a switch when it matters most.
Second Half Surge and Ground Game Glory
Seriously, this team just refuses to quit. Trailing 17-10 at the half, the Bearcats exploded for 21 of their 31 points in the second half. They didn’t just tie it up, they took the lead in the third quarter on back-to-back drives ending with Cole Tabb rushing touchdowns. Tabb was an absolute beast, finishing with three rushing scores and 124 yards on the ground. But wait, there’s more: Gi’Bran Payne also went off, racking up 126 yards himself. That’s Payne’s third 100-yard game as a Bearcat! It was the first time since the Iowa State game in 2024, when Brendan Sorsby and Corey Kiner hit the century mark, that they’ve had two 100-yard rushers. K-State got a late touchdown run from Rodney Fields Jr. to get within five, but missed their two-point conversion. The Bearcats recovered the onside kick, and even though the offense did little with the ball, the defense absolutely locked it down to secure that crucial Big 12 victory.
Satterfield’s Shift and the Nippert Vibe
This 4-0 start? It’s the first time Coach Scott Satterfield has done it, and only the seventh time since the turn of the century for Cincinnati, with the last being Luke Fickell’s College Football Playoff squad in 2021. Kansas State’s Avery Johnson was advertised, going 30-for-50 for 291 yards and a score, but the Bearcats defense held him to just 38 yards rushing after he scorched Tulane for 152 last week. Our guy JC French IV was efficient too, going 8-for-13 for 165 yards and a touchdown. It’s clear “Nipp at Night” is back to being a nightmare for opposing teams. Before they trounced Western Carolina, Satterfield didn’t have any nighttime home wins at 7 p.m. or later, but now they’ve got two this season. Cincinnati is 40-16 in “Nipp at Night” games since 2006, and they needed that energy after some rough Big 12 night losses in recent years. This defense might bend a little, like struggling with Johnson, but they just find a way to get it done.
Kansas State drops to 3-1, but the Bearcats are sitting pretty at 4-0. This early season momentum, especially with those second-half adjustments, is exactly what you want to see. This team is for real, and Satterfield has them cooking!
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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