Iowa State Oct. 4 Noon Kickoff, ESPN 2

[bearcatbret]

This is a stripe the stadium game so check your section number for either wear black or red. Currently, the Bearcats are a 1.5-point favorite. Thankfully, I am in a black section because I do not have any red shirts.

Cincinnati Overtakes Iowa State as Favorites After Eye-Catching Weekend Win | Fanrecap.com

[JohnFrancis]

Two very good quarterbacks in a great matchup at Nippert...I would prefer 'Cats going into this particular game as an underdog. Can anyone provide an update on injuries from the KU game? Royer status?

[bearcatbret]

No word on Corleone or Royer yet. As of yesterday, there was no status update.
Here is a preview:
Bearcats Return to Nippert to Host No. 14/12 Iowa State - University of Cincinnati Athletics - Official Athletics Website

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

I saw an ESPN prediction last night (9/29/25) that gives Iowa State a 51% chance of winning the game on Saturday. That is pretty much "even-steven" and any team can win. From what I have seen of UC football this season, the defense is weak. UC gave up 597 (almost 600) total yards in offense to Kansas. That is a lot of yards. If we remove the one true cupcake team from both UC's and Iowa State's schedules, Iowa State gives up about 16 points / game and UC gives up about 24.6 points / game. Although Iowa State plays with that God-awful three-man defensive front (as do UC), it is much better at controlling big plays than UC.

Let's talk about offense for a second. UC, from what I have seen so far, is a pretty good scoring team. UC scores about 29.3 points / game (assuming we are not including Northwestern State). If we include NS, then UC's points per game are about 39.5 / game. Iowa State scores about 25.7 points / game. So, UC has a slight advantage with the offense. But not enough to list UC as the favorite. Iowa State is better than UC on the defensive side more than UC is better than Iowa State on the offensive side.

Let's not forget that Iowa State is 5-0 and has played a tougher schedule than UC so far (K-State, Iowa, and Arizona). UC has played Nebraska and Kansas where it is 1-1. Oh yeah, did I mention that Iowa State is ranked # 14 in the AP? Despite all of hoop-la around Iowa State football, the Iowa State game represents a great opportunity for UC to get a big win at home against a good solid team.

If UC can tighten-up its defense and limit the big plays, play mistake free, and control the ball and the clock, it may be able to pull out a big win at home on Saturday.

[bearcatbret]

^^^^ Do not forget that Corleone did not play. With him, Kansas does not get close to 600 yards. Unfortunately, about 170 of those yards were from just two plays.

[Lobot]

Two very good quarterbacks in a great matchup at Nippert...I would prefer 'Cats going into this particular game as an underdog. Can anyone provide an update on injuries from the KU game? Royer status?

You'll know soon (today?). and then again on TH and then the day of. Now that we've gone to NFL style injury reports, this stuff doesn't get hidden anymore by gamesmanship

[GoBearcats31]

ESPN2:
Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, Taylor Davis

[bearcatbret]

ISU's top two cornerbacks are out. Jeremiah Cooper, Jontez Williams both sidelined for Iowa State

[red_n_black_attack]

ISU's top two cornerbacks are out. Jeremiah Cooper, Jontez Williams both sidelined for Iowa State

Given Sorsby's proficiency and missing their top two CB's, I think the Bearcats win this game using more then just my love for the Bearcats. This is the game Corleone takes control with consistent pressure on the QB and a team total of at least 3 sacks.

UC - 35
ISU - 24

[Bearcat Chris]

I can’t explain why, but I have never had more positive feelings about UC winning a game. My prediction is that UC wins by 14 on Saturday.

B.C.

[Bearcat93]

Personally, I'd like ISU's full complement in the secondary. Not sure if anyone looks that deep at wins/losses with key players missing, but we could use the opportunity to beat a top 15 team right now. UC sitting at 36, a good win vs #14 could get us close to top 25 depending upon how other teams do in the 20-35 range. The Kansas game was the best UC game in the last 2.25 seasons, would love to see them build on it.

[bearcatbret]

The Iowa State home boys take on this game:
PRIMER: No. 14 Iowa State Faces Road Test at Cincinnati - Iowa State University Athletics

[UC4me]

I was glad to see how productive the offense was against Kansas. That has been a sticking point the past couple of years. We could use that against ISU. I am hopeful the game plan will call for opening it up a bit, especially with 2nd string CBs playing. Sorsby seems much better when given a chance to throw it around a bit rather than having to come up with a big play after loads of runs. It is interesting to see/read the positive vibes about this game. That is certainly unexpected after our opening loss. It is good to have some excitement
about our Cats again.

[Lobot]

We haven't talked about the polls much on here so far this year . Iowa St. Is the first ranked team to come to Nippert in a couple of years (Oklahoma). We generally play ranked teams tough at home. If we want to be be in the poll conversation, we're going to have to beat someone in the poll. to jump up. Big opportunity this weekend.

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

The Iowa State home boys take on this game:
PRIMER: No. 14 Iowa State Faces Road Test at Cincinnati - Iowa State University Athletics

After reading the Iowa State write-up, this team is better than I thought. Nevertheless, this is a double revenge game. UC has not beaten Iowa State in two games running. It is often said that "the third time is a charm". I am not sure what that really means, but it sounds appropriate for UC's current situation. From what I am seen of Iowa State, they are dominate on the offensive line especially in the second half. UC will have to rush more than 3 defensive linemen to win this one.

Maybe the key is in scoring. If UC can keep the offensive pressure on Iowa State, you never know about the outcome. Should be a very good game.