Cincinnati will look to make it two wins in a row Saturday night when the Bearcats welcome Western Carolina to Nippert Stadium for a primetime “Nippert at Night” showdown.
The Bearcats enter the matchup 1-0 following an impressive victory over Boston College, while Western Carolina has split its first two games of the season. The Catamounts opened the year with a 45-21 win over Eastern Kentucky before dropping a 28-19 loss to Campbell on the road.
While Cincinnati enters as the clear favorite, Western Carolina has already shown that it has an offense capable of creating problems, particularly through the air.
Western Carolina Has a Quarterback Who Can Sling It
The biggest name Cincinnati fans should know heading into Saturday is Western Carolina quarterback Lex Thomas, a former NC State quarterback who transferred to the Catamounts after seeing limited action during his time with the Wolfpack.
Thomas has made the most of his opportunity with Western Carolina. Through the opening two games of the season, he has thrown for more than 300 yards in each contest, finishing with 320 yards against Eastern Kentucky before following that up with 326 yards against Campbell.
That gives Thomas 646 passing yards and five touchdowns through two games. Even more impressive, he has managed to do it without throwing an interception.
Cincinnati’s secondary will be busy Saturday night. Thomas has shown that he is comfortable throwing the football and isn’t afraid to challenge defenses through the air. Western Carolina could look to take advantage of that against the Bearcats, testing Cincinnati’s defensive backs and looking for opportunities to create explosive plays. It should provide a worthwhile challenge for a Cincinnati defense that will face significantly tougher competition as the season progresses.
One player who could see plenty of attention from Thomas is wide receiver AJ Colombo.
Colombo leads the Catamounts with 12 receptions for 181 yards through two games, averaging 90.5 receiving yards per contest. His early production makes him the primary target Cincinnati’s defense will need to locate throughout the game.
If Western Carolina can keep drives alive through the passing game, Colombo has the ability to become a major factor. Cincinnati will need to limit his opportunities, prevent easy separation and avoid allowing Thomas to establish a rhythm with his top target.
Payne Could Be Ready for Another Big Performance
On the other side of the ball, Cincinnati has a clear opportunity to lean on its rushing attack.
Running back Gi’Bran Payne was outstanding in the season opener against Boston College, finishing with 108 yards on only 14 carries. He averaged 7.7 yards every time he touched the ball, giving the Bearcats a reliable way to move the chains without putting everything on the shoulders of quarterback JC French IV.
Western Carolina’s performance against Campbell could make the ground game even more appealing.
The Catamounts gave up 198 rushing yards in that matchup, and Cincinnati should have confidence in its offensive line after the way it handled Boston College’s front.
If the Bearcats can consistently create space for Payne, another 100-yard outing is certainly within reach.
Getting Payne involved early would also benefit French. A productive running game forces a defense to respect the box, potentially opening up easier opportunities in the passing game and allowing Cincinnati to dictate the pace rather than asking its quarterback to carry the offense.
Saturday Could Be Important for French
There has already been plenty of conversation surrounding Cincinnati’s passing game after French wasn’t asked to throw the ball very often against Boston College.
I’m not ready to treat that as a major concern.
Cincinnati has two games on the schedule—Western Carolina and Miami (OH)—that present an excellent opportunity to develop the passing attack before the schedule becomes more difficult.
For French, Saturday should be about building rhythm.
Getting comfortable throwing to his receivers, finding some consistency on intermediate routes and connecting on a few explosive plays would all be valuable steps forward. Cincinnati doesn’t necessarily need French to put up massive numbers against Western Carolina. The Bearcats need him to gain confidence and continue developing chemistry with the players around him.
That’s especially important with Kansas State waiting in Week 4.
The Bearcats will eventually have to prove they can win games against teams capable of taking away their preferred strengths. Getting the passing game more established over the next two weeks would make a significant difference when that challenge arrives.
Keep an Eye on MJ Cannon
Western Carolina’s willingness to throw should give Cincinnati safety MJ Cannon another opportunity to make an impact.
Cannon was one of the Bearcats’ biggest difference-makers against Boston College. He finished the game with three tackles, including a tackle for loss, while also forcing a fumble, intercepting a pass and breaking up two additional throws.
That’s the kind of production Cincinnati will gladly take from the back end of its defense.
With Thomas likely to test the secondary throughout the evening, Cannon could once again find himself around the football. His ability to read the quarterback and make plays in coverage could be especially important if Western Carolina manages to find some early success through the air.
Will D’Angelo Hutchinson Make His Debut?
Another storyline worth watching will be the potential debut of late transfer addition D’Angelo Hutchinson.
Hutchinson, who wears No. 30 for the Bearcats, gives Cincinnati another option at safety and adds to the depth of a secondary that could be tested Saturday.
Whether he sees meaningful snaps against Western Carolina remains something to watch. If he does get onto the field, Saturday could provide his first opportunity to become familiar with Cincinnati’s defensive rotation in a live game environment.
What I’m Watching For
The result is the most important thing Saturday night, but there are a few developments that could make the game interesting.
First, can Cincinnati establish Payne and the rushing attack early? The Bearcats should have an advantage up front, and taking advantage of it would allow them to control the game while easing some of the burden on French.
Second, how does Cincinnati handle Thomas and Colombo? Western Carolina has enough passing production to make this a worthwhile test for the Bearcats’ secondary, even if Cincinnati ultimately controls the matchup.
And finally, does French take a step forward?
Cincinnati shouldn’t need to suddenly become a pass-heavy offense. But with Kansas State approaching, these next two games are a chance for French and his receivers to develop the timing and confidence they’ll eventually need against better competition.
The Bottom Line
Cincinnati should have too much talent and physicality for Western Carolina, especially at the line of scrimmage.
Payne should be in line for another productive night, while Cincinnati’s defense will have an opportunity to make life difficult for Thomas and the Catamounts’ passing attack.
The bigger story, though, may be what happens with the Bearcats’ passing game.
A strong showing from French, continued growth from the receivers and another dominant performance from the offensive line would give Cincinnati exactly what it wants heading into Week 3.
For now, the mission is simple: take care of business at home, move to 2-0 and continue building momentum before the schedule gets much tougher.
Under the lights at Nippert Stadium, Saturday night presents another chance for the Bearcats to do exactly that.
Sansom Sports Media will be on-site for the matchup with the Catamounts. Make sure you follow @Bracketnky on X for game day updates!
I’m always available on X @CriglerMedia!
Questions? Comment below, or reach out to hunter.sansom@sansomsportsmedia via email.
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