Cincinnati poured on greater than 600 yards in opposition to FCS Northwestern State. The Bearcats eclipsed that mark once more to open Big 12 play whereas pulling off a dramatic victory over Kansas.
Their offense could not be stopped in the first half Saturday in opposition to No. 14 Iowa State, both.
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The Cyclones entered Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium undefeated. They had trailed simply 28 seconds the complete 12 months and allowed 14.2 factors per recreation over their 5-0 begin.
Then Cincinnati spun Iowa State round and thrust itself into the Big 12 title dialog.
The Bearcats (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) scored on all 5 of their first-half possessions, piling up 4 touchdowns and 342 yards alongside the manner. Iowa State (5-1, 2-1) threatened a comeback, at one level turning a 24-point deficit right into a nine-point recreation in the second half, however Cincinnati held on to win 38-30.
Cincinnati rode a three-pronged dashing assault to their first victory over an AP Top 25 opponent since 2021, a season in which the Bearcats made the four-team College Football Playoff.
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Running again Evan Pryor led the manner with 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tawee Walker wasn’t far behind with 89 yards on the floor.
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby discovered paydirt with a 20-yard keeper that put the Bearcats up 31-7 late in the second quarter. He put Iowa State away in the fourth quarter with a landing move to speedster Caleb Goodie, who caught a deep ball and raced for an 82-yard, catch-and-run rating.
Sorsby entered the day ranked sixth amongst all FBS gamers in complete offense. He accounted for 278 yards in opposition to Iowa State, throwing for 214 yards and dashing for 64 extra.
Both of Iowa State’s first-half touchdowns arrived on quarterback runs, which bookended the second quarter. Rocco Becht in the reduction of for a 14-yard rating on the first play of the body after which surged ahead for a 4-yard rating on an untimed down simply earlier than intermission.
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His second journey to the finish zone adopted a defensive move interference penalty that prolonged the first half. Becht, who missed a play the earlier drive after he was the sufferer of face masks and focusing on penalties on a flag-ridden sack, made the most of the alternative for factors. The Cyclones dove into their bag of methods for a two-point conversion that made it a 31-15 recreation at halftime.
Becht completed 30 of 48 for 314 yards by the air to go together with his 4 complete touchdowns.
The first of his two passing scores got here on a 11-yard throw to large receiver Brett Eskildsen halfway by the third quarter.
Becht’s second aerial landing strike was too little, too late. After Goodie took the top off Iowa State’s protection, Becht transformed three fourth downs: a fourth-and-5, a fourth-and-11 and a fourth-and-goal that noticed him hearth a three-yard rating to wideout Chase Sowell.
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Although 6-foot-7 tight finish Benjamin Brahmer performed some basketball in the finish zone for a two-point conversion reception, the Cyclones’ onside kick was simply recovered by Cincinnati.
Kicking did not do Iowa State any favors Saturday. Walk-on Chase Smith additionally pushed a 35-yard subject aim proper in the second quarter, rendering a 14-play, 58-yard drive that took up 7:12 of clock out of date.
Iowa State started Saturday with the second-fewest penalties per recreation (2.6) and third-fewest penalty yards per recreation (22.6) in the nation this season.
But Matt Campbell’s group dedicated eight penalties for 60 yards in opposition to Cincinnati. (*14*) himself was referred to as for unsportsmanlike conduct after Becht’s third-and-7 move fell incomplete and Iowa State went three-and-out on its first drive of the fourth quarter.
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Cincinnati had a bunch of soiled laundry, too. The Bearcats have been flagged 13 occasions for 128 yards. Plus, Walker fumbled an choice pitch in the third quarter.
But well timed fourth-down stops and a fourth-quarter haymaker that noticed Goodie reel in a deep ball and dash for six proved enough for the Bearcats, who dominated the first half.
Cincinnati followers stormed the subject, celebrating a group that is all of a sudden demanding consideration in the Big 12.