A New Era for the Bearcats
The 2026 college football season will open with a road test for Boston College, as the Eagles travel to Cincinnati on September 5 to face the Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern, and the game will be broadcast nationally.
Cincinnati enters the contest after a 7‑6 finish in 2025, a season that saw the defense retain more than half of its production and the offense receive a major infusion of talent. Transfers quarterback JC French and Liam O'Brien have taken over the quarterback room, while wideout Malachi Henry is expected to become the focal point of the attack.
The series between the two programs stands at 4‑4, and the most recent meeting came in the 2020 Birmingham Bowl, where Cincinnati posted a 38‑6 victory. This time the Bearcats will look to extend their historical edge while navigating one of the toughest non‑conference slates in the Big 12.
Oddsmakers have placed Cincinnati as a 7.5‑point favorite, with the over/under set at 53.5 points, underscoring the anticipation of a high‑scoring affair. The matchup also marks the first step in a schedule that includes games against Western Carolina, Miami (OH), Kansas State, Arizona, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Utah, Houston, Iowa State, Colorado and BYU.