Cincinnati Bearcats Preview 2024 That’s not how things were supposed to function.Cincinnati won 53 games in five seasons under Luke Fickell, propelling the team to the top of the Group of Five and breaking through the glass ceiling to become the first to reach the College Football Playoff.UC received the call to move up to the Big 12, but it coincided with a rebuild in all facets, including at coach, with Fickell departing for Wisconsin.Scott Satterfield was unable to maintain production; there were no breaks, and the school’s win % was the lowest since 1994.
It may take some time for the Bearcats to establish their footing, but Satterfield is a capable coach who can at least get them back into the bowl circuit as the reloading process continues.It’s not all doom and gloom, however.The coaching staff did an excellent job of loading up through the transfer portal; the schedule could not be more manageable – no Utah, Oklahoma State, Arizona, BYU, or Kansas – and, best of all, no one sees UC coming.In a balanced Big 12, expectations will be low, the team can do the “nobody believes in us thing,” and given what’s in place, there’s a chance to be one of the conference’s shocks.
CINCINNATI PREVIEW 2024: OFFENSE.
The offensive lacked consistency. The ground game was among the finest in the country, but the downfield passing attack was lacking, and mistakes were common. That being said, if you can maintain an average of 426 yards of total offense every game, things will improve. That begins with the running backs.Corey Kiner rushed for 1,047 yards and five touchdowns. He’s back, but No. 2 back Myles Montgomery has gone for UCF. That has been addressed by signing Evan Pryor from Ohio State, who will add even more flair to Kiner’s game. It helps that – The line will once more be a plus. Gavin Gerhardt is one of the Big 12’s top centers, but he’s not alone; all five starters are projected to return.
There were too many sacks and tackles for loss allowed, however this was due in part to previous starting quarterback Emory Jones’ mobility, which extended plays. Fortunately… – Brendan Sorsby, the new starting quarterback, is likely to be able to relocate as well. He may not be as good as Jones, but he can help with the ground game. There are some changes to the receiving corps, but leading receiver Xzavier Henderson returns after catching 58 catches for 782 yards and three touchdowns. The transfer portal is assisting with Tony Johnson (Florida Atlantic) on the outside and Tyrin Smith (UTEP) in the slot.
CINCINNATI 2024 PREVIEW: DEFENSE
The O was not awful. The D was a different story. There was no pass pressure, no big plays, poor run defense, and the team allowed 403 yards and 30 points per game. Here’s where the transfer portal comes in. The goal is to obtain immediate aid behind the line, with former Wisconsin Badger Darian Varner and Eastern Michigan’s Mike Coleman anticipated to play a role right away. They have the advantage of playing around Dontay Corleone, probably the best defensive tackle in college football, who will combine with 305-pound Jalen Hunt to jam up the inside.The line will be OK, but the linebackers must do more cleaning up.
Jack Dingle and Jonathan Thompson are experienced on the inside, while transfer Jared Bartlett (West Virginia) will play a hybrid role. The Bearcats are inspecting the portal to resolve the issues. There isn’t a complete rebuild, but more playmakers must emerge. Safeties Mehki Miller, Joshua Minkins (Louisville), and Mehki Miller (New Mexico State) are immediate starters, and if Derrick Canteen (Virginia Tech) can recapture the level he played at earlier in his career at Georgia Southern, he will be the team’s cornerback.
CINCINNATI KEY TO THE SEASON.
Do not turn the ball over.The overall run defense metrics were poor, but they were somewhat skewed, with the majority of the yards allowed coming in three defeats to Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Kansas. As long as the offensive can keep mistakes to a minimum, everything should be OK.UC wasn’t particularly poor at turnovers, but the team went 0-6 when it turned the ball over twice and 3-3 when it didn’t. Until the D comes up with more major stops, the O must stay clean. Cincinnati Key Player
DE Darian Varner, Senior.The former Temple Owl, who appeared to be a terrific fit for Wisconsin, became a pass rushing star in Philadelphia, recording 10.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in two years. He wasn’t able to do much in Madison, and now it’s up to him to re-find his stride and provide the Bearcats with some pass rush.
CINCINNATI’S TOP TRANSFER, BIGGEST TRANSFER LOSS
Top Transfer In: QB Brendan Sorsby He was a good passer when he arrived at Indiana last season, throwing for nearly 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions while also running for 276 yards and four touchdowns. He’s a large 6-3, 235-pound all-around player who fits the system.Top Transfer Out: TE. Chamon MetayerThere were no game-changing losses for Cincinnati via the transfer window; altogether, the team won the exchange – but there were enough to be frustrating. Metayer is an NFL-sized 6-5, 225-pound receiver who had 23 receptions and five touchdowns last season and will now catch passes from Shedeur Sanders at Colorado.
CINCINNATI KEYGAME
Houston, September 21.Order one right immediately. Last season, the Bearcats won only one Big 12 game, against Houston, in mid-November. This time around, the conference campaign begins against the Cougars. A home defeat would not be disastrous, and the schedule for the next few weeks isn’t bad, but it would be a setback.
Cincinnati’s 10 Best Players 1. Dontay Corleone, DT Jr. 2. Corey Kiner, RB Sr. 3. Gavin Gerhardt, C Sr. 4. Xzavier Henderson, WR Sr. 5. Derrick Canteen, CB Sr. 6. Brendan Sorsby, QB Soph. 7. Mehki Miller, senior safety. 8. Tony Johnson, junior wide receiver. 9. Mason Fletcher, senior point guard. 10. Darian Varner, senior defensive end.
CINCINNATI 2023 FUN STATS:
– 4th Down Conversions: Cincinnati 14-of-31 (45%), opponents 12/17 (71%).- The opponents’ first quarter score was 55, and their second quarter score was 114.- The opponents scored 46 touchdowns, while Cincinnati scored 35. CINCINNATI 2024 SEASON PREDICTION: WIN TOTAL, WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
Last season’s schedule did not serve as an excuse for the Bearcats.They weren’t poor against Oklahoma, didn’t play Texas, and had enough mid-level and Medicare teams to finish better than 3-9.Miami University was not poor, but it was a MAC school, and the Bearcats lost their rivalry game.
That proved to be a foreshadowing of things to come, and it is now up to this year’s team to begin winning more of the close bouts.Again, missing Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Kansas this year is significant, and not playing BYU or Baylor is not awful either.Assume it reclaims the Victory Bell from the RedHawks as part of a strong first half of the season, dealing with FCS team Towson and five teams who finished with losing records in the first six games.It will be a tough road through the Big 12, but the Bearcats will have a chance to bowl when the dates against Kansas State and TCU arrive.
Set the Cincinnati win total at 5.5 Likely Wins. Towson 50/50 Games: Arizona State, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Miami University, Pitt, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF, and West Virginia.Likely Losses: at Kansas State, 2024 Cincinnati Schedule: Three Things You Should Know.