Bearcats' Cotton and Tengesdahl named Preseason All-Big 12
Tengesdahl and Cotton received preseason Big 12 honors
Per GoBearcats:
A pair of offensive linemen from the Cincinnati football program were voted Preseason All-Big 12 by the league’s media on Monday. Joe Cotton and Evan Tengesdahl represent the Bearcats on the all-conference squad.
Tengesdahl has already received Preseason All-America honors from several outlets, including the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and Cotton has been named Preseason All-Big 12 by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
Tengesdahl’s 82.8 PFF rating in 2025 was the highest among Big 12 guards and ranked sixth nationally at the position. He helped Cincinnati’s line earn recognition from the Joe Moore Award, as the Bearcats were named semifinalists for the award that annually honors the top offensive line in the country.
Cotton was an All-Big 12 honoree last season, his first as a Bearcat, and did not allow a sack all year.
Cotton and Tengesdahl, along with Taran Tyo, will lead arguably the top offensive line in the country in 2026. The trio anchored a line that allowed the fewest sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (43.0) in the Power Four in 2025. UC finished third in the nation in rushing yards per carry (5.7).