The Cincinnati Bearcats picked up a good win over a ranked opponent for the first time in the Scott Satterfield era Saturday, defeating No. 14 Iowa State 38-30 in front of a sold-out crowd at Nippert Stadium.
Cincinnati (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) snapped its 0-5 drought against ranked teams, while handing the Cyclones (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) their first loss of the 2025 season. The victory marked UC’s highest-ranked home win since a 30-11 victory over No. 7 Rutgers in 2006.
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby led the way, completing 13-of-25 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 64 yards and another score on the ground. The Bearcats rumbled for a season-high 260 rushing yards behind a dominant offensive line. Running back Evan Pryor posted 111 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, and Tawee Walker added 89 yards for his third straight game setting a season high.
Cincinnati’s offense erupted early, scoring on all five first-half drives to build a 31-7 lead and finishing the half with 342 total yards. Pryor’s touchdown runs from 30 and 18 yards and Sorsby’s 12-yard scoring strike to tight end Joe Royer was part of the surge.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht kept his team alive with a pair of touchdown runs and an 11-yard score to Brett Eskilden to cut the deficit to 31-22 midway through the third quarter. But Cincinnati's defense, led by defensive tackles Dontay “The Godfather” Corleone and Jalen Hunt, held strong by stuffing Becht on a crucial fourth-and-1 keeper from the 16-yard line in the fourth quarter.
Sorsby then connected with Caleb Goodie on an 83-yard touchdown to seal the win. The Cyclones scored once more with 1:56 left, but Cincinnati’s defense closed the door to secure the upset and set off a field storming at historic Nippert Stadium.
The Bearcats host UCF next Saturday at noon ET. While Iowa State heads to Colorado for a meeting with Deion Sanders' Buffaloes.
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