It’ll be a big Saturday in Cincinnati.
As the Bearcats prepare to host BYU, they’ll also be hosting Fox “Big Noon Kickoff” outside their stadium 10 hours before kicking off against the Cougars, in a game that will push the winner closer to next month’s Big 12 championship game.
Cincinnati hasn’t hosted “Big Noon” since 2023, and this will be BYU’s third game this year to be visited by a national pregame show — “Big Noon” came to Provo ahead of the rivalry showdown with Utah, and ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcast live from Lubbock before the Cougars’ lone setback of the season to Texas Tech.
“It’s one thing to have one of the kickoff shows to be in your program in September, when people don’t really know what teams have, but to have it in November, when we’re going to be playing, and we still have the big show coming in, that’s pretty cool,” Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield told reporters Tuesday.
“Our guys have earned the opportunity for that. You play a team like BYU, a great football team, and to be able to host that, it’s a great advertisement for our college and our campus to be on national TV, and we get to show that off.
“Our guys are excited about it. Great opportunity. I think, more than anything, we’re excited about playing a ranked team coming in here to Nippert (Stadium). That’s why we’re really excited about this opportunity.”
BYU and Cincinnati last faced off in 2023, where the Kedon Slovis-led Cougars earned their first-ever Big 12 win in 35-27 fashion.
Both teams have come a long way in the two years since their last meeting, having each missed out on bowl games in 2023 but now both firmly in the mix for a Big 12 championship game berth — the first in either program’s history.
“They have done a phenomenal job there,” Satterfield said of BYU. “Very mature team, physical, big, coached well. The defense is one of the best defenses in the country.
“Offensively, coming into the season, everyone thought with a new quarterback they might struggle a little bit, but (Bear) Bachmeier has played outstanding. He’s playing like he’s an older player, an experienced player. He plays with great poise, throws the ball really well, and then can run the football. He’s done a great job as a dual threat.
“... When you think about BYU, it’s a team that’s used to winning, I think they’re 20-3 in the last two years. An outstanding football team.”
In 2023’s meeting, LJ Martin logged 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Chase Roberts caught six passes for 131 yards and a score. Fast forward to today, and Martin and Roberts are each team captains and BYU’s best skill players on offense.
“Big running back, he’s a great, great player,” Satterfield said of Martin. “Then number two (Roberts), the outstanding receiver, we played against him two years ago. And number 11 (Parker Kingston) creates some big-time plays, he has some great speed. I think they’re very good in special teams as well. So not too much weakness (for BYU).”
The Cougars could clinch a Big 12 championship game berth with a win over Cincinnati if they get a bit of outside help, though it’s most likely that a potential clinching would come from winning on Saturday along with defeating UCF at home on Nov. 29.
The Bearcats, however, would need to beat BYU, win at TCU and still have a few other dominoes fall in order to make it to Arlington.
But perhaps the greatest motivation for Cincinnati on Saturday will be the program’s Senior Night, as the Bearcats look to secure a final home victory for their seniors.
“This is an opportunity for us ... 22 seniors will be coming out for the last time. So I’m sure there will be a lot of emotion out there,” Satterfield said. “Guys like (offensive lineman) Gavin (Gerhardt) to make his 47th start, which is incredible. One of the best leaders I’ve ever been around. And (defensive lineman Dontay) Corleone and some of the other guys, it’s just a special group, and so exciting day for them as well.”
Cincinnati opened the year 5-0 in conference play before dropping each of the last two contests to Utah and Arizona. To get back in the win column against a team of BYU’s caliber, Satterfield said it would require an elite effort.
“I just think you have to play a complete football game in all three phases. You have to be very, very solid,” Satterfield said. “I think about the teams that are good at all three phases, they’re usually the teams on top.
“If you have one side of the ball that is not doing what they’re supposed to do, it is going to be hard to win. You can still win, but it’s going to be a lot more difficult then. So in order to be that championship-caliber team, you got to be really solid in all three phases.
“... We talked about this all year, the margins in the Big 12, they’re tight. That’s true, proven to be true.”
