JC French IV completed 17 of 18 first-half passes against Western Carolina, helping Cincinnati win 62-10. Now he gets to play for a trophy he acknowledged knowing little about before arriving. Scott Satterfield said veterans Jonathan Thompson and Antwan Peek Jr. are teaching the newcomers what the Miami rivalry means. French has given them reason to feel good about the quarterback taking his turn with the Bell at stake.
Cincinnati faces Miami at TQL Stadium on Saturday, September 19, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with an 87% chance to win. Expect the Bearcats to keep the trophy, with plenty of reason to care how they get there. This is the first football game at TQL, and Cincinnati leads the series 61-60-7. Miami can draw even in a rivalry that dates to 1888.
French attempted more passes before halftime against Western Carolina than he had in his entire Cincinnati debut. He finished 21 of 24 for 245 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His blockers allowed no sacks while Cincinnati rushed for 418 yards. That gives the Bearcats two ways to sustain a possession against Miami. Keep creating room for the backs, and let French find completions when the defense crowds the run.
The offense also answered an uncomfortable moment. After Western Carolina pulled within four points, Cincinnati drove 81 and 85 yards for touchdowns before halftime, finishing the half with touchdowns on all four possessions. Against Miami, another long scoring answer would be especially welcome if the rivalry gets tight.
Western Carolina attacked Nate Woody's rebuilt defense with crossers and underneath throws on early scoring drives of 60 and 75 yards. Linebacker Damaine Wilson said Woody and the staff identified those concepts and got the defense back to its game plan; Cincinnati allowed just 65 yards after halftime. The defenders showed they could respond. Saturday would feel much steadier if they covered those routes properly from the start.
Miami quarterback David McComb completed all 13 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns against Holy Cross, playing only the first half. Satterfield wants Cincinnati to move him off his spot, warning about his effectiveness from a clean pocket and calling for more pressure than the Bearcats generated against Western Carolina. Watch the receivers behind the rush, too. Cincinnati needs to hurry McComb without giving him an easy underneath completion that lets Miami keep the ball.
French identified another way Cincinnati could make this harder on itself. The Bearcats committed 11 penalties for 105 yards against Western Carolina, and he warned that such mistakes could cost conference games. Kansas State visits next week, but the flags need to come down now. Giving Miami free yards or leaving French longer distances to recover would squander advantages Cincinnati should be able to use Saturday.
The wider scoreboard can stay in the background this week. The interactive guide has Cincinnati's forecasts, with the model explained in the methodology.
Cincinnati reclaimed the Bell in Oxford in 2024, and the teams did not meet last season. Miami identifies Saturday as their last currently scheduled meeting. That gives the veterans' lessons to French a little extra weight. Whoever leaves TQL with the trophy has no date on the calendar to give it back.