The Cincinnati Bearcats have entered the Big 12 preseason conversation with a No. 13 ranking, a milestone that underscores the program’s rapid ascent after years of consecutive five‑game losing streaks.
A wave of change has swept the roster, with 46 new players joining the squad and the early schedule deliberately stacked with home games, allowing the team to start the season on familiar ground.
A More Aggressive Defense
Under new defensive coordinator Nate Woody, the Bearcats will shift to a 3‑4 front that emphasizes pressure and turnover creation. Antwan Peek Jr., a hybrid nickel‑safety and son of former NFL player Antwan Peek, is expected to anchor the secondary, while the line aims to build on a season that yielded only eight sacks.
Quarterback JC French brings a maturity and deep‑ball accuracy that could open up the offense, and receiver JV Gibson, who previously starred at Arkansas‑Pine Bluff and Oklahoma, is poised to become a primary target. The offensive line, featuring Evan Tengesdahl and center Taran Tyo, hopes to improve protection after a modest sack count last year.
The program also announced a move from the Higher Ground training camp to the Sheakley Indoor Performance Facility, a transition that promises better resources and an annual savings of roughly $250,000.
Looking ahead, the 2026 slate includes home matchups against Boston College, Western Carolina, Miami RedHawks and Kansas State, while November will bring road tests at Houston, Iowa State, BYU and a home game against Colorado, where Deion Sanders, known as “Coach Prime,” will bring his own brand of intensity.