CINCINNATI — Nippert Stadium at night remains a nightmare for visitors. Cincinnati came back from a halftime deficit for the second straight week Saturday, beating Kansas State 31-26 to open Big 12 play and move to 4-0.
The Wildcats led 17-10 at the break, but the Bearcats owned the second half behind a punishing ground game. Cincinnati outscored Kansas State 21-9 after halftime, piling up 271 rushing yards — just 17 fewer than the Wildcats had allowed in their first three games combined.
Running backs Cole Tabb and Gi’Bran Payne did the damage, each rushing for more than 120 yards. Tabb finished with 124 yards and three touchdowns, while Payne ran for 126 — his third 100-yard effort in as many games as a Bearcat. It was UC’s first pair of 100-yard rushers in a game since 2024.
“For us to be 1-0 in the Big 12, I’m fired up for our guys,” coach Scott Satterfield said. “We were a physical team tonight. Just wanted to impose our will tonight.”
Cincinnati also contained Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson, a three-time captain who had torched teams through the air and on the ground. Johnson threw 50 times for 291 yards and a touchdown but managed just 38 rushing yards after running for 152 the week before.
It is the first 4-0 start for Cincinnati since the College Football Playoff run of 2021, and Satterfield’s first career 4-0 start. The Bearcats hit the road next week for a late kickoff at Arizona.
