It was another busy week across Cincinnati athletics, highlighted by the football team’s first Big 12 victory of the season and strong individual performances across the Bearcats’ fall sports.
Here’s a look at everything that happened around Cincinnati from Sept. 21–27.
Football
Bearcats Open Big 12 Play With 31-26 Win Over Kansas State
The Cincinnati football team opened Big 12 play in style Saturday night, overcoming a 10-point deficit to defeat Kansas State, 31-26, at home.
The victory kept the Bearcats perfect at 4-0, marking Cincinnati’s first 4-0 start since 2021 and the first of head coach Scott Satterfield’s career.
Despite a slow offensive start, Cincinnati found a way to rally and secure its first conference victory of the season.
[Read the full game recap here.](INSERT LINK)
Women’s Golf
Rymer, Bearcats Finish Sixth at Bettie Lou Evans Invitational
Cincinnati opened the 2026-27 women’s golf season with a sixth-place finish among 13 teams at the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational at Kentucky’s Big Blue Course in Lexington.
Senior Ellise Rymer led the way, tying a program record with a five-under 67 in the opening round. She finished sixth individually at five-under 211, recording a career-low 54-hole score along with 12 birdies and an eagle.
Sophomore Angela Gomez tied for 26th at 219 after opening with a career-low 71, while freshman Eline Chau-Hu made her collegiate debut with a 222 to tie for 33rd. Freshman Mai Mai Wimonwan finished 48th at 228, while Lauren Pleiman rounded out the lineup in 58th at 232.
The Bearcats return to action next week at the Powercat Classic, hosted by Kansas State, in Manhattan, Kansas.
Men’s Golf
Miller Leads Bearcats to Fourth-Place Finish at Gopher Invitational
The Cincinnati men’s golf team finished fourth at the Gopher Invitational at Windsong Farm Club after posting a final-round 2-over 286.
Sophomore Brayden Miller paced the Bearcats with a career-best tie for ninth at 1-under par. Miller followed up his first career top 25 finish at the Bearcat Invitational with another strong showing.
Junior Leo Wessel tied for 13th after shooting a 1-under 70 in the final round, while sophomore Aidan Wilson recorded a career-best finish by tying for 25th.
Senior Timmy Hollenbeck tied for 40th, while freshman Eli Wessel finished tied for 50th.
As a team, Cincinnati recorded 44 birdies and ranked third in the field in par-4 scoring while tying for third in par-5 scoring.
The Bearcats return to competition Oct. 5-6 at the Cullan Brown Collegiate in Lexington, Kentucky.
Baseball
Bearcats Cruise Past Purdue, 12-6, in Fall Ball Opener
Cincinnati baseball opened fall exhibition play Sunday with a 12-6 victory over Purdue.
The Bearcats and Boilermakers were tied 1-1 after seven innings before Cincinnati erupted for seven runs in the eighth to take control.
Twenty-eight players saw action, including 12 pitchers. Freshman Beckett Doane led all players with four strikeouts, while Cincinnati’s four pitchers who worked multiple innings combined to allow no walks.
Offensively, Luke Kosko and Ryan Morel each homered, while Derrick Pitts, Charlie Niehaus and freshman Dylan Fairchile recorded two hits apiece. Jackson Smith also drew three walks.
Cincinnati will face Kentucky at Prasco Park in Mason next Sunday at noon before hosting Dayton on Oct. 10 and Xavier on Oct. 17 at UC Baseball Stadium.
Women’s Soccer
Bearcats Drop Road Matches Against Texas Tech and Baylor
Cincinnati women’s soccer faced a difficult Big 12 road swing, falling to No. 25 Texas Tech, 2-0, on Thursday before dropping a 2-1 decision to No. 11 Baylor on Sunday.
Against Texas Tech, the Red Raiders took a 1-0 lead on a 34th-minute penalty kick before adding another goal in the 54th minute.
Sophomore Lexi O’Shea led Cincinnati with two shots, while goalkeeper Amber Brandon recorded a career-high 6 saves.
The Bearcats then battled Baylor on Sunday, with the Bears scoring in the 36th and 48th minutes to take a 2-0 advantage.
Cincinnati answered in the 72nd minute when junior Joy Kimwemwe headed the ball into the net for her first career goal. The Bearcats couldn’t find a second goal, however, falling 2-1.
Cincinnati now sits at 2-4-4 on the season.
Women’s Volleyball
Bearcats Open Big 12 Play With Losses to TCU and Arizona State
Cincinnati volleyball began Big 12 play with a pair of losses at Fifth Third Arena, falling to No. 11 TCU in straight sets Friday before dropping a 3-1 decision to No. 9 Arizona State on Sunday.
Against TCU, the Bearcats fell 25-16, 25-19, 25-21. Sydney Nolan led Cincinnati with 10 kills, while Andrea Simovski added nine kills and eight digs. Viktoria Ninova recorded 16 digs for her eighth double-digit-dig performance of the season.
TCU outhit Cincinnati .243 to .118 and held a 13-3 advantage in blocks.
Cincinnati returned to the court Sunday against Arizona State and battled back to force a fourth set after winning the third, 25-22. The Sun Devils ultimately closed out the match, 25-16, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20.
The Bearcats had three players reach double figures in kills, with Nina Scrucca and Sydney Nolan recording 11 each and Ligia Williams adding 10. Scrucca also finished with six blocks, while Williams had five.
Cincinnati dropped to 7-5 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play following the weekend.
Looking Ahead
Cincinnati athletics will continue its fall schedule next week, with women’s golf returning to action at the Powercat Classic and baseball facing Kentucky in fall exhibition play.
Meanwhile, the football team will look to build on its 4-0 start after opening Big 12 play with a statement victory over Kansas State.
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