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    • Cincinnati Bearcats Football vs. West Virginia: 5 things to watch
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    Cincinnati Bearcats Football vs. West Virginia: 5 things to watch

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    The University of Cincinnati Bearcats football team should now know by 4 p.m. on Saturday whether it will be bowl eligible for the first time since 2022. West Virginia is in town for a Big 12 meet for the first time.

    Likewise, West Virginia’s Neal Brown is trying to stay relevant and get his team above .500 with three more chances to make a bowl. A year ago, the Mountaineers were picked dead last by the Big 12 media but won nine games, including Duke’s Mayo Bowl over North Carolina.

    The Mountaineers were projected seventh this season, with UC at No. 14, two away from the cellar. The Bearcats and head coach Scott Satterfield are looking to pull off a similar feat to WVU’s 2023 draft. They could become the seventh Big 12 bowl-eligible team with a win on Saturday. Baylor and TCU, also with five wins, could join them. BYU leads the pack with eight wins, with Iowa State and Kansas State having seven, while Colorado, Texas Tech and Arizona State have six. UC’s last win over Nippert was a 24-14 victory over Arizona State.

    “Not to people in the industry,” West Virginia coach Brown said the Bearcats were a surprise. “He (Satterfield) has won at every stop. That staff has been together, they believe in each other. Schematically, they’re doing some really good things and had some success in the transfer portal.”

    Last season, West Virginia beat the Bearcats 42-21 in Morgantown behind quarterback Garrett Greene’s three rushing touchdowns, adding a scoring pass for good measure. This year, UC has 47 new scholarship players and West Virginia could start left-hander Nicco Marchiol at quarterback after Greene suffered a pectoral injury in the loss at Kansas State. Marchiol went 18-of-22 for two touchdowns in the Mountaineers’ win at Arizona.

    UC hasn’t beaten West Virginia since the 2009 Brian Kelly season, when they defeated the No. 23-ranked Mountaineers 24-21. Isaiah Pead ran for 175 yards and a score, while current radio reporter Tony Pike’s two red zone completions went for touchdowns. WVU scored with 39 seconds left, but the onside kick was recovered by UC’s Armon Binns.

    That win kept UC’s undefeated record in order. A win Saturday would be an important step in the Satterfield regime.

    5 Things to Watch in the Cincinnati Bearcats vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

    1. It is advisable to win the turnover battle

    Since 2002, West Virginia is 102-15 when they have the upper hand in turnovers. Looking at this season, both teams have recorded a total of three interceptions. The Mountaineers have recovered three fumbles, while the Bearcats have eight. UC leads in points vs. revenue in 2024, 43-14.

    2. Bearcats need to contain WVU running back Jahiem White

    That’s really quite a feat considering White covered 204 yards last year in Morgantown. However, in key wins over UCF and Arizona State, the Bearcats held top-ranked NCAA runners RJ Harvey and Cam Skattebo below their averages.

    “They’re still running from last year,” Satterfield joked about last year’s lopsided loss. “They know how to hit the gaps. It’s a big challenge for our defense. Their offense starts there. If they get that running game going, it’s going to be a long day for you. We’ve got to do a great job putting in a lot of hats for the get the ball.”

    The 6-foot-4, 191-pound White was held to 33, 46, 46 and 18 yards in WVU’s four losses. He had 100 vs. Albany, 158 vs. Oklahoma State and 92 in his last game vs. Arizona, all wins. White has forced 32 missed tackles this season, compared to UC’s Corey Kiner, who has forced 55, fourth-best in the country.

    Taller defenseman CJ Donaldson Jr. ((6-foot-1, 235) has also been held under 50 in three of WVU’s four losses.

    From the Mountainers’ sideline, Brown has noticed more balance in UC’s offense, along with an experienced offensive line.

    “They’re doing a really good job offensively,” Brown said. “We have our job to do. What we have to do is get to the top and keep the ball in front of us.”

    3. I hope you see Oliver Straw from West Virginia

    He’s their punter and probably a friendly guy considering he’s from Melbourne, Australia, just like UC’s Mason and Max Fletcher. WVU ranks second nationally in converted fourth downs (17) among FBS schools. Three of their Arizona touchdowns came on fourth down.

    The signal caller in Tucson was Nicco Marchiol, at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, a larger and mobile southpaw. You don’t want him to complete 82% of his passes like he did against Arizona.

    UC linebacker Jake Golday said the goal in Colorado was to stop the pass, but this week, while they hope to contain Marchiol, they will try to stop WVU running backs White and Donaldson.

    Golday went to Kings Island during the bye week and rode The Beast. If he turns into a beast on Saturday, it would boost UC’s chances. He leads UC with 45 tackles, including six tackles for loss.

    4. Will Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jared Bartlett be able to fire an old teammate?

    Bartlett had a distinguished career at West Virginia, playing against UC in Morgantown last year. Now he’s in the red and black, aiming to make it to his second straight bowl game. He leads the Bearcats in sacks with 5.5 and in tackles for loss with eight. He also brings in nasty messages coming from Morgantown.

    “My old teammates are texting me and social media is going a little crazy,” Bartlett said. “‘We hate you and this and that!’ It’s kind of cool. It’s just a different game.”

    Bartlett said he also had to deal with messages when switching and had to deal with them properly. He is rarely confronted personally. The 6-foot-4, 237-pound linebacker/edge rusher is about to play in his 58th NCAA FBS football game.

    “That’s why they post things on the phone,” Bartlett said of his critics. “It’s just the way of the world.”

    Bartlett knows both WVU quarterbacks and is preparing for both, though he assumes Marchiol will get the call. If he achieves either, he will likely demonstrate the passion he has shown all season to his teammates.

    “All of our goals are aligned,” Bartlett said. “November is the most important month of the season. That’s when you make the biggest steps to see how your season is going to end. We all know that and we’re all focused on getting where we want to go.”

    5. Keep the local talent local

    Well, UC tries. West Virginia has former Colerain standout Zae Jennings on their roster, as well as Fairfield brothers Josiah and Jordan Jackson. They’re all defensive backs. Jennings and Josiah Jackson were tendered by the Bearcats, while Jennings made a late switch to the Mountaineers. He has played in all eight games this season and has two tackles. The Jacksons haven’t played.

    In some cases, UC has seen a return to the local talent circle, as in Elder products Joe Royer and Luke Kandra, both now NFL prospects who wear a C-Paw on their helmets.

    Who has the FS1 lead?

    UC’s most dominant win of the season was the 34-0 shutout of Houston, broadcast on FS1. Conversely, West Virginia won 31-26 in Arizona on October 26. On Fox, WVU lost to Penn State, Iowa State and Kansas State. Kickoff is at noon and the Bearcats have won four of five games with that start time.

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