Man, looking back at the uc football schedule 2024, it’s a total rollercoaster of "what ifs." Honestly, if you just glance at the final record, you’re missing the actual story of what happened on the turf at Nippert Stadium and across the Big 12. Most folks see a 5-7 finish and think "wash." But that's kinda lazy.
Scott Satterfield’s second year was basically a masterclass in how thin the margin for error is in modern college football. You’ve got a quarterback in Brendan Sorsby who showed massive flashes of brilliance, a run game that was actually legit, and a defense that—well, let’s just say they had some growing pains.
The season started with a lot of optimism. Beating Towson 38-20 in the opener was expected, but it was the way they did it—putting up over 600 yards of offense—that had people thinking the Bearcats were back. Then came the Pitt game. That one still stings. Leading by 21 and losing 28-27? That’s the kind of game that haunts a program for months.
Breaking Down the UC Football Schedule 2024 Games
The schedule was divided into three distinct "moods." You had the early non-conference slate, the mid-season "hey, we might be good" stretch, and the November collapse.
In September, the Bearcats went to Oxford and took care of business against Miami (OH), winning 27-16. Keeping the Victory Bell in Cincinnati is always the priority. They followed that up by absolutely dismantling Houston 34-0. At 3-1, the vibes were high. Even the 44-41 loss to Texas Tech felt like a "quality loss" because the offense looked unstoppable.
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Then came October. This was arguably the peak of the season.
They went down to the Bounce House and beat UCF 19-13 in a gritty defensive battle. Then they came home and handled Arizona State 24-14. At this point, the Bearcats were 5-2. They needed one more win to go bowling. Just one.
The November To Forget
It’s wild how fast things can turn. After a loss to Deion Sanders and Colorado (which, honestly, Colorado was just better that night), the wheels didn't just fall off—they disintegrated.
- West Virginia (Home): A 31-24 loss where turnovers killed them.
- Iowa State (Away): A 34-17 blowout where the offense couldn't move the sticks.
- Kansas State (Away): A 41-15 thumping that wasn't even as close as the score looks.
- TCU (Home): The finale. A 20-13 heartbreaker in the rain.
They finished on a five-game losing streak. Going from 5-2 to 5-7 is a brutal way to spend your holidays.
Why the Record is Deceiving
If you look at the stats, Cincinnati wasn't a "bad" team. They outgained their opponents on average, 420 yards to 385. Sorsby finished with over 2,800 yards passing and 18 touchdowns. Corey Kiner was a workhorse, grinding out over 1,100 yards on the ground.
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So why the losing record? Red zone efficiency and turnovers. Basically, they’d drive the length of the field, get to the 10-yard line, and then find a way to settle for a field goal or, worse, cough it up. They had 11 fumbles lost on the year. You can't win in the Big 12 giving the ball away that much.
Key Matchups and Scores
For those who want the raw data without the fluff, here is how the uc football schedule 2024 actually played out:
The Bearcats opened with a win against Towson (38-20) before that heartbreaking one-point loss to Pitt (27-28). They bounced back against Miami (OH) (27-16) and blanked Houston (34-0). A high-scoring shootout at Texas Tech ended in a loss (41-44), but they responded by beating UCF (19-13) and Arizona State (24-14).
The season turned south starting with the Colorado game (23-34). From there, they dropped games to West Virginia (24-31), Iowa State (17-34), Kansas State (15-41), and the season-ender against TCU (13-20).
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What This Means for 2025 and Beyond
People are split on Satterfield. Half the fanbase sees the improvement in the roster—the lines are bigger, the QB is better—and the other half is tired of the late-game collapses.
The biggest takeaway from the 2024 season is that Cincinnati belongs in the Big 12 physically, but they aren't there yet mentally. They lost three games by one possession. If you flip those, you're looking at an 8-4 team and a very different conversation.
Actionable Insights for Bearcats Fans:
- Watch the Transfer Portal: The defense needs an influx of veteran talent in the secondary. The 2024 schedule proved that Big 12 quarterbacks will pick you apart if you can't get home with a four-man rush.
- Don't Give Up on Sorsby: He was a bright spot. With another year in the system, he’s a top-tier Big 12 quarterback.
- Nippert is Still an Advantage: Even in a losing season, the atmosphere remained elite. If the team starts winning those close ones, that stadium becomes a nightmare for visitors again.
The uc football schedule 2024 was a lesson in frustration, but it also laid the groundwork for what the team needs to fix. It wasn't a lack of talent; it was a lack of finish. Whether they can find that "finishing" gear in 2025 is the only question that matters now.
If you’re looking to prep for next season, start by looking at the 2025 early commits. The staff is leaning heavy on offensive line depth to protect Sorsby, which is exactly where the 2024 tape says they should be looking. Keep an eye on the spring game dates—that's where we'll see if the defensive scheme has actually evolved.