CINCINNATI, OH – No. โ22 University of Cincinnatiโ football will face a significant test Saturday at noonโข ET when they host Arizona in a matchup โขof top Big โ12 contenders. The Bearcats (7-1) and โขWildcats (6-2) represent two of the conferenceS most potent offenses and increasingly formidable defenses.
Cincinnati boasts the nation’s fifth-ranked offenseโค in yards per play (7.22), complemented by a balanced attack โคranking third nationally in rushing yards per attempt (5.99) and 10th in pass efficiency (164.41). Theyโค lead the โฃcountryโ in fourth-down conversion percentage โค(.909) and fewest sacks allowed โข(2.0), and are eighth in red zone offense (.943). Quarterback Brendan Sorsby, a Denton, Texas native, spearheads the Bearcats’ attack and is the Big 12’sโ highest-rated QB by Pro Football Focus (89.7), ranking second in Total QBR (80.6) and passer rating (161.47). Sorsby has amassed 2,064 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, adding 453 rushing yards and eight scores. Remarkably, he threw 20 touchdowns with zero interceptions during โขSeptember โฃand October, leading UC too a 7-0 record over that span.โข He remains the only Powerโข Four quarterback to throw at least 10 touchdowns with no interceptions at home this season. Sorsby hasโค been recognized twice as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, following games against Northwestern State andโค Kansas.
Arizona presents a strong challenge, featuringโค one of the Big 12’s top defenses. The wildcats โขrank second in the league in pass defense (160.11 yards allowed) and lead the conference with 12 interceptions and 18 total turnovers forced. Arizona also ranks No. 4 in theโค Big 12 in scoring defense (19.9 points per game) and No.5 in scoring โคoffense (33.0โค points per game).
Cincinnati’s scoring defenseโข (21.9 points allowed) ranks No. 7 in the Big 12, and the Bearcats have committed a league-low seven turnovers. UCโ currently holds the 20th-bestโฃ “Strength of Record” according to ESPN metrics, trailing onlyโค BYU (eighth), Texas Tech (ninth), and Utah (19th) withinโ the Bigโ 12.They are also 19th in ESPN’s game control metric and the nation’s 20th most efficient team boasting โthe seventh-most efficient offense โขand theโ No. 13-most efficient special teams.
Fifita’s 18 first-half touchdown passes lead the nation,one more than Sorsby’s 17.
