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The Cincinnati Bearcats' tour of formidable Big 12 quarterbacks continues this weekend as they travel to face No. 17 Houston on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7, at TDECU Stadium. So far, UC has contended with the scrambling of Kansas State's Avery Johnson, the passing of Arizona's Noah Fifita, the unpredictability of West Virginia's Michael Hawkins Jr., Texas Tech's Will Hammond, and Utah's dual-threat Devon Dampier. The Bearcats secured Big 12 wins against Johnson and Hammond but suffered three conference losses in games where Fifita, Hawkins, and Dampier exploited their mobility.
Next up is Houston's Conner Weigman, a 6-foot-3 native Texan who spent two seasons at Texas A&M. Weigman ranks No. 14 nationally in passing efficiency, ahead of Hawkins and Dampier, both of whom gave UC trouble. He is No. 8 in passing touchdowns with 20, more than Fifita and Dampier and seven more than UC's JC French IV. He also ranks No. 20 in passing yards with 2,053, surpassing Dampier, who threw for three touchdowns against the Bearcats.
"Weigman does everything really, really good," UC head coach Scott Satterfield said. "He can make all the throws, he's sneaky fast, he can make safeties miss when he runs the football. They run the offense through him. He's the catalyst for their offense. They don't ever get themselves out of position." Houston leads the nation in third-down efficiency at 60%, while UC ranks No. 33 at 44.6%.
Series History
The all-time series is tied at 15-15, but the Bearcats have won five straight. UC shut out the Cougars 34-0 in 2024, the first year for current Houston coach Willie Fritz. The previous meeting in 2023 took place in Houston, where the Bearcats earned their first Big 12 win, 24-14, against a Dana Holgorsen-coached Cougars team. Houston's last victory in the series came at Nippert Stadium in 2016, a 40-16 rout of Tommy Tuberville's final UC squad.
Scouting Report
Why Cincinnati has an advantage: In a season defined by parity, momentum can shift dramatically from week to week. "There's a lot of parity in college football," Satterfield said. "Most of these teams have a new roster. What's the chemistry like? And there's a lot of ups and downs throughout the season. Who's injured? Who's playing? Who's not playing? Where are you playing? Everybody's playing nine conference games now. It makes it exciting for the fans. This parity is what everybody wants. This year, in all these games, everybody's got a chance to win." The Bearcats could receive a boost if center Taran Tyo and nose tackle Josh Hough return from injury. Cole Tabb has rushed effectively, posting three consecutive 100-yard games; if Gi'Bran Payne can contribute and help UC surpass 200 rushing yards, it may help slow the Houston offense. Utah is the only team to eclipse 200 rushing yards against the Cougars, gaining 226 on Oct. 24. Texas Tech managed 168 yards on the ground, and those two games represent Houston's only losses.
Why Houston has an advantage: After a 21-13 loss at Utah on Oct. 24, the Cougars had a bye week to heal and scout the Bearcats. Additionally, they are at home. TDECU Stadium may not be the most intimidating venue, but winning breeds enthusiasm, and Willie Fritz's team has only lost to ranked opponents Texas Tech and Utah. Like Cincinnati, Houston competes with NFL, MLB, and NBA teams for fan attention, a situation similar to Arizona State and Colorado. Most Big 12 schools are located in college towns. Houston averages 39,199 fans this season, about 7,000 more than last season and about 12,000 more than in 2024. In UC's last visit in 2023, the Bearcats won in front of 34,312. Moreover, it's November, and the Bearcats are 1-11 in the 11th month since joining the Big 12. However, their lone November win came in their inaugural Big 12 season in Houston. "Every year's different; we've got a completely different team," Satterfield said. "Not looking at exterior things and focusing on Houston is what we have to do. Then, you have to go out and play. Last year we played really good teams in November."
Based on this week's rankings, UC still has two ranked teams on its schedule: at No. 17 Houston and at No. 7 BYU on Nov. 28. A road game at Iowa State on Nov. 14 won't be easy, and a home date with Colorado on Nov. 21 awaits.
Injury Report
The Bearcats played without nose tackle Josh Hough and center Taran Tyo against Utah. Early indications suggest both should be available for the Houston game. Houston quarterback Conner Weigman left Rice-Eccles Stadium in a walking boot after the Oct. 24 loss at Utah. The Cougars were idle, and based on Willie Fritz's press remarks on Nov. 3, Weigman is back up to speed.
Odds and Upcoming Schedule
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sports Network: Moneyline: UC +310, Houston -400; Spread: Houston -10.5; Over/under: 62.5. The Big 12 announced on Nov. 2 that UC's game at Iowa State on Nov. 14 is in a six-day window for TV, with kickoff to be announced by Sunday, Nov. 8.
Originally reported by yahoo.