CINCINNATI — Cincinnati quarterback JC French IV is playing some of his best football of the season, and the timing couldn't be better for the Bearcats. With No. 6 Utah coming to Nippert Stadium on Saturday, French has helped give Cincinnati an offense capable of attacking opposing defenses in several different ways.
French threw a career-high four touchdown passes in last Saturday's 37-24 upset of No. 8 Texas Tech, completing 19 of 30 passes for 172 yards. The performance came one week after he threw for a career-high 389 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-42 loss at West Virginia.
His seven touchdown passes over those two games are tied for the most in the nation during that stretch. The performance against Texas Tech also earned French a spot on the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 list for Week 8, recognizing him among the nation's top quarterback performances.
Through seven games, French has completed 69.4% of his passes for 1,510 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He has also rushed for 291 yards and six touchdowns, giving Cincinnati another option when opposing defenses focus on stopping the passing game or UC's stable of running backs.
What makes the Bearcats so difficult to defend is the balance between French and the running game. Cincinnati ranks eighth nationally with 234.6 rushing yards per game and has surpassed 225 yards on the ground in five of its seven contests.
Cole Tabb has been a major reason for that success. The sophomore rushed for a career-high 173 yards against Texas Tech, including a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that helped put the game away. He is averaging 9.6 yards per carry this season, providing Cincinnati with an explosive threat whenever he touches the ball.
French contributes to that rushing attack as well. Against Texas Tech, he gained 46 yards on 12 carries, extending plays and forcing defenders to account for his ability to run. When a quarterback can make plays with his legs, it adds another dimension to the offense that makes it difficult for opposing defenses to deal with.
The Bearcats have also shown they can distribute the football effectively through the air. French's four touchdown passes against Texas Tech went to four different receivers: Tabb, Malachi Henry, Lyviel Waters, and Larenzo Fenner. That versatility gives opposing defenses more than one receiving threat to account for. In short, UC has answers to anything a defense tries to do.
Another thing that needs mentioned is French's response to adversity. After throwing his first two interceptions of the season in the third quarter against Texas Tech, he led Cincinnati on a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive as if none of it ever happened, finishing it with a 17-yard scoring pass to Fenner. The touchdown extended Cincinnati's lead to 31-15 and helped the Bearcats regain control of the game.
Cincinnati will need that versatility Saturday against a Utah defense allowing just 88.3 rushing yards per game. The Utes present a major challenge, but the Bearcats have already shown they can move the football against quality teams.
With French continuing to develop as a passer and runner, and Tabb providing one of the Big 12's most explosive rushing threats, Cincinnati has the offensive balance to challenge even the conference's best defenses.
