A Shocking Upset in Nippert Stadium
Cincinnati Bearcats host No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and deliver a stunning 37-24 victory. The home team, playing in front of 38,088 fans, overcame a higher-ranked opponent to improve their record to 5-2. Texas Tech, the visiting squad, drops to 6-1 after the loss.
The game featured a dominant performance by the Bearcats offense, which scored 21 points in the second quarter alone to take a commanding lead.
Bearcats Explode in Second Quarter
The game began with a back-and-forth affair in the first quarter. Stephen Rusnak kicked a 47-yard field goal for Texas Tech, giving them a 3-0 lead. Stone Harrington responded with a 32-yard field goal for Cincinnati, tying the game at 3-3.
Harrington then added a 48-yard field goal to give Texas Tech a 6-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter, however, belonged entirely to the Bearcats. JC French IV connected with Cole Tabb on a 4-yard pass, followed by a 5-yard pass to Malachi Henry, and a 2-yard pass to Lyviel Waters.
These three touchdowns, all kicked by Stephen Rusnak, extended Cincinnati’s lead to 24-6 by the end of the half. This surge of 21 points in a single quarter proved to be the decisive momentum shift in the game.
Texas Tech Fights Back, But Falls Short
In the third quarter, Texas Tech attempted to rally. Stone Harrington kicked a 42-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 24-9. Peyton Morgan then returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown, though the two-point conversion failed, narrowing the gap to 24-15.
JC French IV countered with a 17-yard pass to Larenzo Fenner, extending the Cincinnati lead back to 31-15. In the fourth quarter, Harrington kicked a 33-yard field goal for Texas Tech, making it 31-18. Cole Tabb then broke through for a 58-yard rushing touchdown, with the two-point conversion failing, to make it 37-18.
Quinten Joyner capped the scoring with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, leaving the final score at 37-24.
Stat Lines and Records
JC French IV was the engine of the Cincinnati offense, completing 19 of 30 passes for 172 yards and four touchdowns, though he also threw two interceptions. Cole Tabb was a dual threat, rushing for 173 yards on 16 carries and scoring one touchdown. Zylan Perry caught four passes for 43 yards.
For Texas Tech, Will Hammond completed 24 of 37 passes for 227 yards with one interception. J'Koby Williams rushed for 81 yards on 12 carries, and Kenny Johnson had seven receptions for 81 yards. The Bearcats finish at 5-2, while the Red Raiders remain at 6-1.
Sources
ESPN
