Game Three: Cincinnati at Miami (OH) Preview
The Bearcats will return to action Saturday when they travel to Oxford to take on the Miami Redhawks in the 128th edition of the Battle for the Victory Bell.
The series is currently tied 60-60-7 following Miami's 31-24 overtime upset win over UC last season inside Nippert Stadium. The Miami win ended a 16-game winning streak for the Bearcats.
Miami enters Saturday's match up off a week two bye following week one's 13-6 loss at Northwestern.
Despite last week's gut-wrenching 28-27 loss to Pitt, Head Coach Scott Satterfield and his team have turned their attention to Miami and put their focus on bringing the Victory Bell back to Clifton.
"We have to move on because we have a big opponent this week in Miami," Satterfield told media on Tuesday. "This is the game that we've been talking about all year, all summer and all camp. We realize how big of a game this is. This is the 128th time playing them, and the record is 60-60-7. You can't get any tighter than that. We have seen, read and heard about this series. We don't know what the series is going to look like in the future. This game has even more importance for getting that bell back."
With a 2026 meeting at Paul Brown Stadium being the only scheduled meeting left in this series between the long-standing rivals, quarterback Brendan Sorsby echoed Satterfield's comments that they must put the Pitt loss behind them and prioritize the importance of Saturday's rivalry.
"We're on to Miami and it's a game that we feel good about. We want to go and ring the bell, that's one of our team goals so we're going to go do it. Obviously, everybody was disappointed about the game on Saturday and the outcome of it, but we're not going to let it define us. It's one game. It's early on in the year. So, we're going to move on and find a way to put it behind us."
Growing up in Cincinnati, All-American offensive lineman Luke Kandra has a good understanding of the rivalry and what it means to both programs.
"Knowing this rivalry, it's a big game. We know what it has to take (to win) and we just got to keep stacking those days of consistency, knowing what we have to do to win."
Safety Mekhi Miller has a unique perspective of the rivalry, having already experienced this rivalry from the Miami side in 2019.
"I'm very excited to go back (to Miami) because I've never won the bell and now I have a chance to return it back to Cincinnati. I think it's important here at this program so it's a big week for me."
Having been in the Miami locker room, Miller was able to describe what the Cincinnati rivalry means to Miami players, leading up to the Battle for the Victory Bell.
" When I was there, it meant a lot during that week. Coach Martin makes sure he puts things in your locker (for motivation). That stuff matters. It puts some type of hate in your heart for the other team, so I know they're going to bring their all and be ready to play."
Satterfield discussed what his team will have to do to leave Yager Stadium with a win on Saturday.
"Miami is coached well, and they play hard in all three phases," Satterfield said. "They don't give you anything, so you have to earn everything. It is also going to be different going and playing at their stadium. We're looking forward to this game and looking forward to going and trying to get that bell back here to Cincinnati."
Miami Players to Know:
- The Redhawks are still searching for their first touchdown of the season but will go as far as quarterback Brett Gabbert takes them. The sixth-year senior completed 22-of-37 passes in week one for 227 yards with two interceptions. Applying pressure will be key as Gabbert took four sacks against Northwestern. All MAC tackles Will Jados and Reid Holskey will lead an offensive line that struggled to keep Northwestern's defense out of the backfield in week one.
- At the running back position, Chuck Martin will likely go with a running back by committee approach. 6'0 senior Jordan Brunson carried eight times for 33 yards in week one but the Redhawks will also utilize Keyon Mozee, the team’s leading rusher in 2021, as well as Purdue transfer Dylan Downing and receiving back Kevin Davis
- Out wide, Cade McDonald was on the receiving end of eight completions for 105 yards in week one. The former Michigan State transfer will be heavily involved in the passing game, along with 6'4" receiver Reggie Virgil, and 6'5" tight end Jack Coldiron.
- Defensively, the Cincinnati offense will have to be aware of reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Matt Salopek is at all times. Salotek had 10 tackles in the loss to Northwestern and 18 tackles in the win over Cincinnati last season. The Kent, OH native has finished with over 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons. Defensive end Brian Ugwu and middle linebacker Ty Wise combined for 3.5 tackles for loss in week one and will be be key in stopping Cincinnati's run game. Defensive back Eli Blakely leads a Miami secondary that will try to slow an offense that is currently ranked No. 8 among NCAA Division I schools as well as the No. 8 passer in yards in Brendan Sorsby.
Final Thoughts:
I'm not sure the Cincinnati players took the rivalry game with Miami that serious last season. Quarterback Brett Gabbert rushed for a career high 75 yards and threw three touchdowns in the 31-24 win, including one on Miami's first play from scrimmage.
Despite the Pitt loss last week, there seems to be a renewed focus and energy heading into what is likely Cincinnati's last trip to Yager Stadium.
The Bearcats will need to get off to a strong start and do a better job at finishing, but this is a game that the offensive line and run game should dominate.
Defensive tackle Dontay Corleone returned to action last week and was dominant at times. Miami struggled to get anything going in the run game against Northwestern and Corleone should be a key factor in Cincinnati getting pressure on Gabbert and producing tackles for loss.
After giving up 438 yards to Towson and 498 yards to Pitt, better coverage and tackling are obvious musts going forward for a group which currently ranks 12th-to-last in total defense.
At the end of the day, Cincinnati's roster is more talented this season when comparing to last season. Don't turn the ball over, run the ball with success, limit big plays defensively, and the Bearcats should walk off the field with a W heading into a week four Big 12 home opener against Houston.
UC is currently a 3.5-point favorite.
How to Watch:
The game will be televised at 12 p.m. ET on ESPNU with Matt Schumacker (pxp) and Dustin Fox (analyst) on the call.
Dan Hoard (pxp) and Jim Kelly (analyst) will call the game for 700 WLW on the radio with Tony Pike on the sideline and Mo Egger on the pregame show.