In a thrilling Big 12 opener on Saturday night, the Cincinnati Bearcats rallied from a 17-10 halftime deficit to beat Kansas State 31-26. The comeback was powered by a dominant ground game, with running backs Cole Tabb and Gi’Bran Payne combining for 250 yards.
Key performances
Tabb rushed for 124 yards on 11 carries, scoring three second‑half touchdowns, including a 5‑yard run that tied the game at 17‑17 and a 30‑yard sprint that put Cincinnati ahead 24‑17. Payne added 126 yards on 16 carries, marking his third 100‑yard rushing effort of the season.
Coach Satterfield’s praise
Head coach Scott Satterfield highlighted the team’s physicality and the offensive line’s role in creating running lanes. “We were a physical team tonight, imposing our will with the run. Our O‑line did a great job opening holes, and our backs found them and made the cuts,” he said.
He also commended the wide receivers for their blocking, which helped spring the long runs.
Game flow
After trailing at halftime, Cincinnati tied the game early in the third quarter and then took the lead with Tabb’s 30‑yard touchdown run. Kansas State narrowed the gap to 24‑20 with a field goal, but Tabb’s 14‑yard touchdown with 3:28 left restored a comfortable margin.
Kansas State’s final score came from a 1‑yard run by Rodney Fields, but a failed two‑point conversion left them unable to catch up.
Implications
The win puts Cincinnati at 4‑0 overall and 1‑0 in the Big 12, their best start since the unbeaten 2021 season. Satterfield expressed excitement about the team’s direction, saying he’s “fired up” for the season.
Kansas State, despite entering the game ranked second nationally in total defense, struggled against Cincinnati’s balanced attack, especially in the second half.
Looking ahead
Cincinnati’s next challenge is an away game at Arizona next Saturday, while Kansas State will host Houston on Oct. 10.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
