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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/RJEP22 on 2025-06-24 13:14:29+00:00.
WE’RE GOING THROUGH EACH P4 TEAM’S SCHEDULE AND PICKING EVERY GAME!
Today we have the Cincinnati Bearcats!
2024 saw improvement for the Bearcats in Scott Satterfield’s second year in charge. The loss of Luck Fickell to Wisconsin coincided with the move to the Big12, which was a significant upgrade in competition week to week, so it wasn’t a surprise to see Cincy struggle at first. A 5-7 record is a long way from the CFP appearance just 3 years prior, but it was a step in the right direction and now the 2025 squad has a chance to continue to the momentum.
People aren’t expecting much from a that returns their QB and has added to an already good run game in the portal. This team is flying under the radar and that means they are primed to play spoiler for plenty of Big12 contenders this year. The WR corps is brand new and they’ll need to improve in the trenches, but if a few pieces hit and Sorsby takes even a small step forward, this will be a dangerous team to play week-in and week-out.
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
L vs* Nebraska
W vs Bowling Green
W vs Northwestern State
BYE
L @ Kansas
W vs Iowa State
W vs UCF
L @ Oklahoma State
L vs Baylor
L @ Utah
BYE
W vs Arizona
L vs BYU
L @ TCU
If you want to create upsets, this is the schedule for you, but if the goal is to maximize your win percentage for each game, that is where this schedule falls short. If you’re trying to reach the 7-8 win mark, Cincy would have liked to see games against Kansas and Oklahoma State played at Nippert, and punt on trips to Baylor and BYU. That being said, the two Big12 title favorites are nowhere to be seen on this schedule and there are 0 sure-fire losses.
Getting Nebraska at a neutral site early in the season is probably a good thing. I expect Raiola to improve as the season goes so I don’t hate this spot for Cincy. They can make a game of it. They can even win it if Sorsby comes out firing against a secondary with question marks.
This team will grab an upset or two at home at some point during the season, and I picked the Iowa State game, but you also have to look at Baylor and BYU coming to town as opportunities to shake up the Big12 title race.
In order to make a bowl or better, this team likely has to go 3-0 against UCF, Arizona, and Oklahoma State. If they can also pull off an upset at home or go on the road to Kansas and steal and win, we could be looking at another year of improvement in Cincinnati.
For me, I have them coming up just short of these goals, but that is based in the belief that Gundy will be able to field a functional football team this year, and that Kansas won’t have QB health concerns that early in the season. If I’m wrong about either of those, then we’re looking at a bowl game for the Bearcats in 2025.