2025 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

2025 Cincinnati Bearcats football
2025 Cincinnati Bearcats football
Conference	Big 12 Conference
Record	0–0 (0–0 Big 12)
Head coach	Scott Satterfield (3rd season);
Offensive coordinator	Brad Glenn (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Tyson Veidt (2nd season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Nippert Stadium
Uniform
	Seasons ← 2024 2026 →

The 2025 Cincinnati Bearcats football team will represent the University of Cincinnati during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats, members of the Big 12 Conference, play home games at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. 2025 is the program's third season under head coach Scott Satterfield.

2025 Big 12 Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Arizona	0	–	0	0	–	0
Arizona State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Baylor	0	–	0	0	–	0
BYU	0	–	0	0	–	0
Cincinnati	0	–	0	0	–	0
Colorado	0	–	0	0	–	0
Houston	0	–	0	0	–	0
Iowa State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Kansas	0	–	0	0	–	0
Kansas State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Oklahoma State	0	–	0	0	–	0
TCU	0	–	0	0	–	0
Texas Tech	0	–	0	0	–	0
UCF	0	–	0	0	–	0
Utah	0	–	0	0	–	0
West Virginia	0	–	0	0	–	0
Championship: 2025 Big 12 Championship Game
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of December 31, 2024 Rankings from CFP Rankings

Offseason

Positions key
C	Center	CB	Cornerback	DB	Defensive back	DE	Defensive end^[a]
DL	Defensive lineman	DT	Defensive tackle	FB	Fullback	FS	Free safety
G	Guard^[b]	K	Kicker^[c]	KR	Kickoff returner	LB	Linebacker
LS	Long snapper	MLB	Middle linebacker^[d]	OT	Offensive tackle	OL	Offensive lineman
OLB	Outside linebacker^[a]	NT	Nose tackle	P	Punter	PR	Punt returner
QB	Quarterback	RS	Return specialist	RB	Running back	S	Safety
SS	Strong safety	TE	Tight end	WR	Wide receiver

^ ^a ^b May sometimes be referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
^ Also known as offensive guard (OG)
^ Also known as placekicker (PK)
^ Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)

Coaching staff changes

Departures

Departures
Name	Position	Reason for Leaving	New school	New position
Kerry Coombs	Special Teams and Cornerbacks coach	Fired^[1]
Nate Fuqa	Co-Defensive coordinator and Stars coach	Fired^[2]

Additions

Additions
Name	Position	Previous school	Previous position

Recruiting

College recruiting information (2025)
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Zebulin Kinsey QB	Wellsville, Ohio	Toronto Junior/Senior High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Nov 18, 2023
Zebulin Kinsey QB	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Zion Johnson RB	Covington, Georgia	Newton High School	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Feb 8, 2024
Zion Johnson RB	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Giyahni Kontosis WR	Upper Marlboro, Maryland	Riverdale Baptist School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Jul 8, 2024
Giyahni Kontosis WR	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Ka’Maurri Smith TE	Dayton, Ohio	Wayne High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Nov 19, 2023
Ka’Maurri Smith TE	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
DaMari Witherspoon TE	Dallas, Georgia	East Paulding High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Aug 27, 2024
DaMari Witherspoon TE	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jeremiah Kelly OL	Avon, Ohio	Avon High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	315 lb (143 kg)	Jun 21, 2024
Jeremiah Kelly OL	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Marcus McGregor OL	West Des Moines, Iowa	Valley High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	Dec 2, 2024
Marcus McGregor OL	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Cray Paich OL	Northbrook, Illinois	Glenbrook North High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	May 18, 2024
Cray Paich OL	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Zach Taylor OL	Kingsland, Georgia	Camden County High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	300 lb (140 kg)	Sep 23, 2024
Zach Taylor OL	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
James Early DL	Fort Wayne, Indiana	North Side High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	Oct 6, 2024
James Early DL	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tim Griffin DL	Covington, Georgia	Alcovy High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	Nov 23, 2024
Tim Griffin DL	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
CD McFee DL	Elkhart, Indiana	Elkhart Memorial High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	296 lb (134 kg)	Sep 7, 2024
CD McFee DL	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Kamron Neal DL	Smyrna, Georgia	Campbell High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	Nov 11, 2024
Kamron Neal DL	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Myles Harrison LB	Pickerington, Ohio	Pickerington High School Central	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Dec 3, 2024
Myles Harrison LB	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Terrell Holcomb LB	Gahanna, Ohio	Gahanna-Lincoln High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Jun 17, 2024
Terrell Holcomb LB	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Patrick Williams CB	Greenville, South Carolina	Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	Dec 25, 2023
Patrick Williams CB	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jamari Johnson S	Birmingham, Alabama	Pell City High School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	Dec 4, 2024
Jamari Johnson S	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
CJ Jones S	Bolingbrook, Illinois	Bolingbrook High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Apr 23, 2024
CJ Jones S	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
CJ Crite Star	Chesapeake, Virginia	Oscar F. Smith High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Jun 8, 2024
CJ Crite Star	Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2025 Cincinnati Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. "2025 Players Commitments – Cincinnati". ESPN.com. "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. "2025 Cincinnati Bearcats football team". 247sports.com.

Transfers

Players leaving

^[3]^[4]

Departing transfers
Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	New school
Caleb Schmitz	TE	6'3"	240	Junior	Lancaster, PA	Illinois State
Kalen Carroll	CB	5' 11"	161	Sophmore	Brownsburg, IN
D.J. Taylor	DB	5'10"	195	Senior	Tampa, FL
Aaron Turner	WR	5'8"	185	Senior	Washington, D.C.
Sterling Berkhalter	WR	6'3"	200	Junior	Cincinnati, OH
Carter Brown	PK	6'0"	198	Junior	Pearland, TX
Ben Mehan	P	6'0"	180	Freshman	Downingtown, PA
Garrison Butler	DL	6'1"	280	Freshman	Jacksonville, FL
Jonathan Harder	OL	6'4"	330	Sophmore	Delaware, OH
Michael Mussari	WR	6'1"	200	Freshman	Kings Mills, OH
Kameron Wilson	DL	6'2"	250	Junior	Decatur, GA
Brady Drogosh	CB	6'4"	220	Freshman	Warren, MI	Grand Valley State
Quinton Price	CB	6'3"	180	Freshman	Cincinnati, OH
Jordan Young	CB	6'0"	197	Junior	Tampa, FL	Arkansas
Tyrin Smith	WR	5'7"	165	Senior	Cibolo, TX

Incoming transfers

Cincinnati incoming transfers
Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Prev. school
Taran Tyo	OL	6'4	326	Junior	Greenville, Ohio	Ball State
Matthew McDoom	CB	5'8	160	Junior	Winter Garden, Florida	Coastal Carolina
Jaylon White-McClain	DE	6'4	254	Junior	Virginia Beach, Virginia	Old Dominion
Caleb Goodie	WR	6'1	170	Junior	Breaux Bridge, Louisiana	Colorado State
Cyrus Allen	WR	6'0	170	Senior	New Orleans, Louisiana	Texas A&M
Nolan Latulippe	OL	6'7	281	Senior	Aylmer, Quebec	Albany
Noah Jennings	WR	6'1	185	Sophomore	Columbia, South Carolina	Charleston Southern
Stephen Rusnak	PK	6'5	200	Senior	Clarkston, Michigan	Charlotte
Jeff Caldwell	WR	6'5	200	Junior	Louisville, Kentucky	Lindenwood

2025 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Preseason

Big 12 media poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site
August 28	vs. Nebraska*	Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, MO
September 6	Bowling Green*	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH
September 13	Northwestern State*	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH
TBA	Arizona	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH
TBA	Baylor	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH
TBA	BYU	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH
TBA	Iowa State	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH
TBA	UCF	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH (rivalry)
TBA	at Kansas	David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS
TBA	at Oklahoma State	Boone Pickens Stadium Stillwater, OK
TBA	at TCU	Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX
TBA	at Utah	Rice–Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT
*Non-conference game Source: ^[5]^[6]

Game summaries

vs. Nebraska

Pregame line	Over/under

Nebraska Cornhuskers (0–0) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Cornhuskers			0
Bearcats			0

at Arrowhead Stadium • Kansas City, Missouri

Date: August 28

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NEB	CIN
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nebraska	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Cincinnati	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Bowling Green

Pregame line	Over/under

Bowling Green Falcons (0–0) vs Cincinnati Bearcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Falcons			0
Bearcats			0

at Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio

Date: September 6

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BGSU	CIN
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bowling Green	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Cincinnati	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Northwestern State

Pregame line	Over/under

Northwestern State Demons (0–0) vs Cincinnati Bearcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Demons			0
Bearcats			0

at Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio

Date: September 13

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NSU	CIN
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Cincinnati	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Personnel

Roster and staff

Awards and honors

**Big 12 Weekly Honors**
Date	Player	Class	Pos.	Award	Ref.

All-Big 12

**All-Big 12**
Player	Pos.	1st/2nd team

HM = Honorable mention

References

^ John Brice [@JohnDBrice1] (December 10, 2024). "Multiple sources tell @FootballScoop that Scott Satterfield is making changes to his Cincinnati Bearcats staff" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ Easterday, Taylor (December 13, 2024). "Cincinnati fires STARS coach Nate Fuqua". Newsrecord.org. The News Record. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
^ "2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247sports. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
^ "2025 College Football Transfer Portal". On3. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
^ "2025 Cincinnati Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved Dec 1, 2024.
^ "2025 Football Schedule". Cincinnati Bearcats. Retrieved Dec 1, 2024.

[edge-1] May sometimes be referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)

[2] Also known as offensive guard (OG)

[3] Also known as placekicker (PK)

[4] Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)

[5] John Brice [@JohnDBrice1] (December 10, 2024). "Multiple sources tell @FootballScoop that Scott Satterfield is making changes to his Cincinnati Bearcats staff" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[6] Easterday, Taylor (December 13, 2024). "Cincinnati fires STARS coach Nate Fuqua". Newsrecord.org. The News Record. Retrieved 20 December 2024.

[7] "2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247sports. Retrieved 1 December 2024.

[8] "2025 College Football Transfer Portal". On3. Retrieved 1 December 2024.

[9] "2025 Cincinnati Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved Dec 1, 2024.

[10] "2025 Football Schedule". Cincinnati Bearcats. Retrieved Dec 1, 2024.

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