CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati has plenty planned for its 100th Homecoming celebration this weekend, but the football team will have its hands full with the visitors. The Bearcats welcome No. 8 Texas Tech to Nippert Stadium on Saturday, for a noon kickoff
Homecoming has traditionally been good to Cincinnati. The Bearcats are 63-32-4 in Homecoming contests, including a 21-5 record since 2000. But this year's opponent arrives undefeated, ranked among the nation's top 10 teams, and looking to remain in contention for the Big 12 championship.
For Cincinnati, the celebration also presents an opportunity to end a two-game losing streak and get back on track after a disappointing pair of road games.
A Difficult Test for the Bearcats
Cincinnati opened the season with four consecutive victories but has since lost at Arizona and West Virginia, dropping to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play.
Last Saturday's 45-42 loss to West Virginia was very bad, at least defensively. The Bearcats produced 622 yards of offense, and quarterback JC French completed 22 of 30 passes for a career-high 389 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. But West Virginia won the game with a field goal as time expired.
Running back Cole Tabb added 118 yards on the ground, while Malachi Henry recorded 128 receiving yards on just two catches.
Yet the Bearcats still lost because they flatly could not stop the Mountaineers - or Arizona before that.
Now the Bearcats must face one of the country's strongest teams, and their remaining schedule doesn't get much easier.
Texas Tech Brings an Unbeaten Record
Texas Tech arrives at Nippert Stadium with a 6-0 record, including three victories in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders have won eight consecutive regular-season conference games, a school record, and have been one of the nation's stronger teams this season.
Texas Tech ranks fifth nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 82 yards per game. The Red Raiders also average approximately 193 rushing yards per game on offense, led by J'Koby Williams, who has rushed for 538 yards this season.
That creates an interesting matchup with the Bearcats, who average 231.2 rushing yards per game, the 11th-best mark nationally. Cincinnati has exceeded 225 rushing yards four times this season, although finding that kind of production against Texas Tech will be considerably more difficult.
The teams last met in 2024, when the Red Raiders defeated Cincinnati 44-41 in another high-scoring contest. Saturday will be Texas Tech's first visit to Nippert Stadium.
A Century of Homecoming
Saturday's game is part of a weekend honoring Cincinnati's football history and the people who helped build the program.
Former Bearcats stars Jason Kelce and Connor Barwin will be inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday. The university will also recognize former basketball coach Bob Huggins, whose family announced Wednesday that he is living with a progressive cognitive condition.
The festivities continue Saturday with the Homecoming football game and activities around campus. Cincinnati has won five of its last six Homecoming contests, and the Bearcats will be hoping the home crowd can help them extend that success.
Still, the schedule offers little opportunity to enjoy the occasion without preparing for what's ahead. After Texas Tech, Cincinnati hosts No. 10 Utah on October 31 before traveling to No. 14 Houston on November 7.
Three consecutive games against ranked opponents will test how far Scott Satterfield's team has come and whether the Bearcats can recover from their recent losses.
For now, Cincinnati's focus is on Saturday. Beating an undefeated, top-10 opponent would be quite a way to celebrate 100 years of Homecoming.
