Cincinnati does not leave the city in September. The Bearcats open at Nippert Stadium against Boston College on FOX, host Western Carolina under the lights, play the 129th Battle for the Victory Bell against Miami at TQL Stadium, and welcome Kansas State for the Big 12 opener before the first road trip, to Arizona on Oct. 3. The back half brings the 100th Homecoming against defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech, Utah on Halloween, and a finish at BYU.
Scott Satterfield is in his fourth season and has added two wins each year, from 3-9 to 5-7 to 7-6 in 2025, when Cincinnati started 7-1, reached No. 17, beat No. 14 Iowa State, and made its first bowl as a Power Four program. The roster turns over with 51 newcomers, including transfer quarterback JC French IV from Georgia Southern, behind an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks of any Power Four team last year. Nate Woody, who ran Army’s defense the last six seasons, takes over as coordinator.
Games That Will Define the Bearcats’ Season
| Sept 5 vs Boston College | A Power Four opener on FOX for the second straight year. The series is tied 4-4, last played in the 2019 Birmingham Bowl (a 38-6 UC win), and this is the first regular season meeting since 1997. Cincinnati has won 24 straight home openers, second nationally to Oklahoma State. |
| Sept 26 vs Kansas State | The Big 12 opener, and Kansas State’s first trip to Cincinnati since 1995. New Wildcats coach Collin Klein opens league play on the road for the 22nd time in 31 Big 12 seasons. |
| Oct 24 vs Texas Tech | The 100th Homecoming at Nippert against the defending Big 12 champion and a preseason top 12 team. Texas Tech made the College Football Playoff in 2025 and comes in after a bye. |
| Nov 28 at BYU | The regular season ends in Provo against a team that played in last year’s Big 12 title game. It is Cincinnati’s third road game in the final four weeks. |
How the Schedule Sets Up
Four straight in Cincinnati to open, then the first real test of the road: Arizona, a bye, and West Virginia. The Homecoming and Halloween home dates against Texas Tech and Utah decide whether November means something, because the finish is Houston, Iowa State and BYU on the road around one home game against Colorado.
For the other side of these Big 12 dates, see our Kansas State schedule, Texas Tech schedule and Utah schedule. The official schedule and ticket details are on GoBearcats.com.
The Bottom Line
Seven games in Cincinnati, a bye in the middle of the first road swing, and a November with three of four away from Nippert. Satterfield’s fourth team has a new quarterback, a new defensive coordinator and the best offensive line in the Big 12; another two win jump would mean nine. Bookmark this page; results and kickoff times are updated throughout the season.