CINCINNATI — For the second consecutive week, Cincinnati went into halftime trailing and emerged looking like a completely different football team.

The Bearcats erased a 17-10 halftime deficit Saturday night and scored 21 second-half points to defeat Kansas State 31-26 at Nippert Stadium, improving to 4-0 and opening Big 12 play with a victory.

Kansas State controlled much of the first half, taking a 10-0 lead before Cincinnati finally found some rhythm. JC French IV connected with Malachi Henry for a 39-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter, and Stephen Rusnak added a 45-yard field goal to tie the game at 10. The Wildcats answered just before halftime, however, when Avery Johnson found D.J. Salley Jr. for a 4-yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining.

Then the game changed almost immediately after the break.

On Kansas State's first offensive play of the third quarter, Salley caught a pass over the middle but fumbled after a hit from Antwan Peek Jr. Maximus Cannon recovered, giving Cincinnati the ball near midfield. The Bearcats turned the takeaway into seven points when Cole Tabb scored from 5 yards out to tie the game at 17.

Tabb was nowhere near finished.

After Cincinnati's defense forced a three-and-out, Malachi Henry returned the ensuing punt 36 yards to the Kansas State 36. Three plays later, Tabb broke through the middle for a 30-yard touchdown, giving the Bearcats their first lead of the night at 24-17.

Kansas State cut the margin to 24-20 with a fourth-quarter field goal, but Cincinnati answered with perhaps its most important possession of the game. The Bearcats marched 75 yards on 10 plays while draining more than six minutes from the clock, leaning heavily on the running game before Tabb finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown.

Tabb ended the night with 124 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries, giving Cincinnati the physical presence it needed to take control after halftime.

The Wildcats made one final push, scoring with 1:15 remaining to cut the lead to 31-26, but their two-point attempt failed (and ruined Frank Meyer's pre-game prediction). Kansas State's onside kick did not travel the required 10 yards, and after Cincinnati eventually punted, the defense held through the final seconds to secure the win.

For a team that trailed 21-0 against Miami just one week ago, Cincinnati is developing a habit of making halftime adjustments and finishing games much better than it starts them.

That habit has the Bearcats sitting at 4-0.

What’s Next

Cincinnati hits the road next Friday to face Arizona in Tucson. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET.