In a game that had all the makings of a Big 12 classic, the Cincinnati Bearcats handed the Iowa State Cyclones their first loss of the season, winning 38-30 on Saturday at Nippert Stadium. The undefeated Cyclones, ranked No. 12 coming in, couldn't overcome a gritty Bearcats defense and a potent rushing attack that piled up over 200 yards on the ground.
Indeed, Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, but it was the ground game that wore down Iowa State's depleted front seven. The Cyclones, already shorthanded with injuries to key players like Evan Pryor, struggled to contain the Bearcats' relentless drives. Rocco Becht, Iowa State's quarterback, fought back valiantly, tossing a late touchdown to Brett Eskildsen to cut the lead to eight points with just seconds left. However, a review confirmed the score, but it wasn't enough to rally the visitors.
Moreover, this victory marks the fourth straight win for Cincinnati under coach Scott Satterfield, a turnaround that's got Bearcats fans buzzing after a shaky start to the year. Iowa State, now 5-1, saw their perfect record slip away in a shootout that exposed some vulnerabilities—particularly in run defense, where they allowed Cincinnati to control the clock for nearly 35 minutes. Becht finished with solid numbers, 250 yards and three scores, but turnovers and penalties hampered the Cyclones' rhythm throughout.
The atmosphere at Nippert was electric, with the crowd roaring as Cincinnati sealed the deal on a crucial fourth-down stop late in the fourth quarter. For Iowa State, it's a tough pill after dominating early-season foes, but coach Matt Campbell will point to the resilience shown in the comeback attempt. Cincinnati, meanwhile, climbs to 4-1, injecting life into their conference hopes.
However, both squads now pivot to tougher tests ahead, reminding us how quickly fortunes shift in college football. As the Big 12 race heats up, what lessons will these teams carry forward?