5 things to watch out for against Houston

As previously in the Missouri Valley Conference, Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference, the Cincinnati Bearcats football program will face the Houston Cougars in the Big 12 opener between the two schools on Saturday at noon at Nippert Stadium.

Just over 10 months ago, the Bearcats earned their first-ever Big 12 win in Houston, beating the Cougars 24-14 on Nov. 11. UC head coach Scott Satterfield returns to his second year with a 2-1 record, while former Tulane coach Willie Fritz filled in for Dana Holgorsen in Houston. The Cougars are 1-2, but played a game against 15th-ranked Oklahoma a few weeks ago, losing just 16-12.

Dontay Corleone (2) hits Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith (1) in last year's game in Houston. It was the first and only Big 12 win for the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2023.

Fritz won at Nippert Stadium when he and his Tulane Green Wave defeated the Bearcats in 2022, ending UC's 32-game home winning streak. Similar to last week, bookies estimate that UC could win with a field goal. On the road, the Bearcats won by 11. At home, they would like to earn their first Big 12 win at Nippert Stadium.

5 things to watch for in the Big 12 opener Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars

1. Who will win the quarterback battle between UC's Brendan Sorsby and Houston's Donovan Smith?

Brendan Sorsby had his lowest efficiency rating against Miami University, although his completion percentage was better than in the Pitt game, where he threw three touchdowns. Keep in mind that two potential touchdowns were taken back by Sorsby to Joe Royer, including an 80-yard touchdown, making his longest pass 21 yards.

Sorsby's most impressive stat? Zero interceptions.

Smith has started parts of two seasons at Texas Tech and every Houston game since last season. He had three 300-yard games with the Red Raiders in 2022 and two for the Cougars last season. His lowest totals came against the Bearcats (102 yards) and Kansas State (88 yards), and UC intercepted him three times last season, which is a career high. UNLV sacked him six times in Week 1, then he was 24 of 28 passing against No. 15 Oklahoma. Overall, he was sacked 11 times in three games.

Houston's Fritz listed him as 6'3″ and 235 pounds, but he described him as more like 6'5″ to 6'6″. He scored two touchdowns in last week's win over Rice, and last year against the Bearcats he rushed for 88 yards and also threw two touchdown passes to Joseph Manjack.

“He looks like a great tight end or defensive end who can run,” Satterfield said. “He's had some 300-yard passing games and can impact the game, no question.”

2. Can UC's Corey Kiner hit 20 runs again and break the 100 mark?

Senior Kiner has rushed for 149 and 126 yards in back-to-back games against Pitt and Miami, respectively. Against the Panthers, he had 20 carries and perhaps should have had more in the fourth quarter. Last week, he had 21 carries. At Houston last year, he had 23 carries for 129 yards in UC's only Big 12 win in 2023.

Kiner has surpassed 100 yards in fewer than 20 carries, but the Bearcats are 3-1 when he reaches that mark (Pitt and Houston last year, plus the win at Victory Bell last Saturday). The only exception is the loss to Pitt in Week 2. He is also Pro Football Focus's all-time college football player in forced missed tackles with 25.

“I've been talking about this for weeks now, but when you can just turn around and give the ball to 21 (Kiner), Corey does a great job of always kicking the first guys out of bounds and always gaining extra yards,” UC quarterback Sorsby said.

3. Can UC’s Xzavier Henderson have a double-digit catching day?

After catching a dozen balls last year against Miami University, Henderson caught 10 more in Saturday's Victory Bell game, and did so without a single one in the fourth quarter. He has now surpassed 100 yards twice in three games, after doing so three times last year. Henderson was the fifth-best receiver in college football last week, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Much like Royer, he's a standout player and anytime you get the ball in his hands, he's great,” Sorsby said. “Miami did a great job of stopping the passing game down low, so any time we had to look at the play, it was a good opportunity to get the ball in his hands and let him do good things with it.”

4. Which team, Houston or UC, will win the speed game?

On his 65-yard touchdown run against Miami, Ohio State transfer Evan Pryor reached 20.6 mph. He has twice put teams under pressure on long runs, managing 185 yards on just 12 carries.

Houston also has a sprinter who scored a 65-yard touchdown last week against Rice while clocking 21.3 mph. Stacy Sneed ran just 17 more yards but gave the Cougars an early lead. Sneed didn't have a run against the Bearcats last year, but the team is still quick on its feet.

“From their position as running back and wide receiver, they're very fast and can make really big plays,” Satterfield said. “That's where we have to be good and try to limit those big plays and get them to run the football.”

5. Are Satterfield's young Cincinnati Bearcats ready for what they were recruited for?

In addition to UC's 25 portal players, most of whom are playing, the Bearcats have added several true freshmen to the rotation. Jiquan Sanks has started at the hybrid “star” position and has 12 tackles. Simeon Coleman moves to linebacker and has 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. Pro Football Focus just ranked him as the No. 8 true freshman in Week 3.

Marquaze Parker has been featured on the defensive line in the last two games with three tackles and three quarterback hurries. Defensive back Marquavious Saboor has two tackles and recovered a fumble against Miami, leading to UC's first touchdown. Linebacker Montay Weedon has been featured in two games with three tackles and a forced fumble.

Others who were in action included tight ends Gavin Grover and Devyn Zahursky and cornerback Willie Goodwyn. All were early adopters and part of winter training that began last January.

“We had a good feeling about them when we signed this class,” Satterfield said. “We knew it was going to be a special class. As camp went on, there were a couple of guys that we thought would play now. As those weeks go on, you get a couple of injuries, you start using them, and they start making plays. I think they're going to play more and more.”

What about the Cincinnati Bearcats not playing?

Current NCAA rules allow players to play in four games and then receive a redshirt. Conference championships, bowl games or College Football Playoff games are not included. The Bearcats and many other teams have decisions to make about some players, but if a player hasn't played yet, it's logical that he would receive a redshirt.

5 things to watch out for against Houston

5 things to watch for in the Big 12 opener Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Houston Cougars

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5 things to watch out for against Houston

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