Bearcats claw Eagles, 34-15, improve to 1-0

The Bearcats kicked off their 2026 season at Nippert Stadium on Saturday with a 34-15 victory over Boston College.

"A great feeling discussing a victory, especially over an ACC opponent." Scott Satterfield told reporters. "That was a great environment today, especially want to shoutout the students for coming out and supporting us on a really hot day. They were with us till the very end. We really appreciate that. This was a complementary win. All three phases, offense, defense and special teams. I thought JC played great today as well. We were perfect in the redzone today which is great to see. That's a great feeling."

Final Stats

Quarterback, JC French finished the day, 5-7 passing, for just 29 yards and a touchdown. However, the senior quarterback racked up 52 yards on ten carries, with three touchdowns on the ground in the victory.

WR JV Gibson caught the lone touchdown from French late in the first quarter. Gibson finished the day with two receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Cincinnati's rushing attacked anchored them to a victory on Saturday, as they racked up a total of 254 yards on the day, averaging nearly six yards per carry, picking up right where they left off in 2025.

Highlighted by senior running back Gi'Bran Payne who finished the day with 108 yards on 14 carries in his return to Cincinnati. The Notre Dame transfer is expected to be the anchor back for Cincinnati and that was on full display this afternoon to say the least.

Now for the defensive side of the ball, the Bearcats racked up four turnovers on the day, with the team's line interception belonging to safety MJ Cannon, who had a coming out party for Cincinnati. The Bowling Green transfer safety also forced a fumble resulting in another turnover in Cincinnati's favor. Cannon finished the day with three tackles, a tackle for loss, and Interception in he victory.

"It was great to see MJ get the interception along with the forced fumble." said Satterfield. "From the time we were breaking down MJ Cannon's film when we played Bowling Green last year, we all collectively agreed that he was pretty good. When we came out of the game, we all said if MJ goes into the portal, that would be a guy I'd like to have here at Cincinnati. He is such a great kid and great to be around."

Antwan Peek junior led the defense with nine tackles in his first game at the linebacker position. Which, for Cincinnati, is a great sight to see, if you ask me. It seemed as if Peek and the linebackers were able to have a lot of success getting downhill and in the face of Mason Mckenzie.

5th year linebacker Jonathan Thompson finished with eight tackles, a sack, and tackle for loss in the victory. However, it felt as if Thompson was close to finishing a couple more plays that would have had a significant impact on this game as well.

Game Recap

Cincinnati's new instilled defense came out hot after Boston College rattled off an 18-yard gain on the game's opening play. However, Cincinnati then responded with a quick three and out, after a huge tackle for loss from Antwan Peek junior.

JC French's first look under center resulted in an eight play, 41-yard drive, capped off by a 54-yard field goal from veteran kicker Stephen Rusnak, which, tied his career long.

The Bearcats offense then stalled out for the most part, that was until the Bearcats went deep into their bag and called the mysterious fake punt, where Malachi Henry connected with Punter Max Fletcher for a first down to move the chains. Few plays later, Cincinnati found the endzone for the first time this season, after French connected with JV Gibson on the slant route.

Cincinnati quickly controlled a ten-point lead over the Eagles, with 7:48 to play in the first half.

Boston College had a chance to put some points on the board in their two-minute drill to close the first half, but Cincinnati outsider linebacker Antwan Peek junior jarred the ball lose at the last second for the incompletion. One player later, cornerback Kenny Worthy came away with a huge pass break up in the endzone.

The Eagles would be forced to settle for a 35-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining in the first half. However, the Eagles kicked was wide right, and the Bearcats defense prevailed, yet again.

Cincinnati entered the break with a 10-0 lead over the Eagles, behind a relentless defensive effort from the Bearcats defense. Nate Woody and the Bearcats defense dialed up the heat and made it extremely challenging for Boston College to get anything going offensively. It seemed as if the Bearcats were living in the face of Mason McKenzie, as the Bearcats recorded three sacks in the first half, with ample missed opportunities.

JC French and the Bearcats extended their lead to 17, following a ten-play drive spanning 69 yards before a four-yard touchdown run from French. A drive that was capped off by two crucial runs from junior running back Cole Tabb, who racked up thirty yards on two carries to move the Bearcats into Eagler territory.

Cincinnati's defense responded with the team's first turnover of the season after safety MJ Cannon, quite literally shot out of a Cannon, to force a huge hit which jarred the ball loose, which was recovered by Jacob Finley.

JC French and the Bearcats offense marched down the field for a seven play, 41-yard touchdown drive, that was capped off by a four-yard touchdown run from French, his second of the game, as Cincinnati now lead 24-0, with 5:24 left in third quarter.

Boston College responded with seven play, 75-yard drive, for their first points of the game following a four-yard touchdown run from Evan Dickins. The Eagles were then able to complete the two-point conversion the ensuing play to trim the Bearcats lead to sixteen.

The Bearcats offense then marched down the field, where they were able to get into Eagle territory, before the offense fizzled out, setting up Stephen Rusnak, for yet another field goal tries. This time, the senior buried one home from 44-yards out, to give the Bearcats a 27-8 lead with five minutes to play.

JC French then scampered in for his third rushing touchdown of the night to cap off a four-play drive as the Bearcats officially put this game to bed. This time the veteran quarterback faked out everyone and wound up in the end-zone untouched as he officially marked a career high in terms of rushing touchdowns in a single game.

The Eagles then closed the game with Mason Mackenzie marching the Eagles down the field for a 68-yard drive. Mackenzie connected with Jonathan Montaque, for a 23-yard score with just over a minute to play at Nippert Stadium.

However, the revamped Bearcats, were just simply too much to handle for the Eagles this afternoon to say the least. The Bearcats dominated in every single facet of this game it appeared, which for Cincinnati fans, is a tremendous sight to see.

Up Next

The Bearcats (1-0) return to Nippert Stadium next Saturday, as they welcome in Western Carolina, with kick-off slated for 7pm.