Cincinnati Bearcats Football 2026 Fall Camp Storylines

Things just were not working out with Tyson Veidt's bend-don't-break defense at Cincinnati last season. The Bearcats created the fewest interceptions in the country, played soft coverage far too often, and just weren't aggressive enough given their talent level.

Cincinnati had some good defenders, but never got enough pressure on the quarterback in the front seven to cause much havoc: Enter Nate Woody.

Satterfield dialed up his old defensive coordinator at App State to come over from his most recent DC job at Army. Cincinnati is moving some key pieces around on the path to their strongest 3-4 blitz scheme unit possible.

"If you can get the offense off their routine, mixing it up by bringing different pressures, boundary field, and being a lot more aggressive," Satterfield said at Big 12 Media Days. "I think that's what we need to be able to do, and with the talent that we have in that linebacker position, with some of the guys we brought in, and some of the guys that are back, like Jonathan Thompson, Simeon Coleman.

"We got some great linebackers that can really put pressure on offenses, and we got to be able to utilize those guys, and I think in this defense we're going to be able to do that, and obviously be able to mix in some coverages with that as well. So that's kind of what we've been doing this whole spring, and as we approach the summer, is finding different ways to be able to do that."

Expect a lot more aggression from this unit, especially at the strongest spot on the defense with its linebackers.

That group could be the main catalyst for havoc as blitzers with more pass-rushing responsibility in this scheme.

Havoc Creation

Defense takes the top-two spots here for good reason. Yes, the offense needs to do a better job sustaining drives, but another five-game losing streak to end last season fell on the other side's inability to create much variance.

They have to get off the field more consistently, and the best way to do that is with your hands. Veidt's unit forced a measly 10 turnovers last season (116th nationally), and they were the only team in the country to intercept two or fewer passes.

That cannot repeat this fall if Cincinnati wants to beat that 6.4 ESPN FPI win projection, let alone get to eight wins. I need to see tipped passes aplenty, punch outs all over, and diving with everything you got to get turnovers.

In a league with such slim margins like the Big 12, getting this massive factor turned in the right direction has never been more important, especially with an expected drop in quarterback play this season (Brendan Sorsby ranked 10th in ESPN's QBR last season, JC French IV ranked 81st).

Continued French Growth

How well is French IV dealing with pressure during fall camp?

That's one of the biggest markers for Cincinnati's success this coming season. UC fielded one of the best offensive lines in the country last season and will roll out another top 15 unit this coming season.

They are a better pass-blocking unit than French had at Georgia Southern and a far better run-blocking unit, helping the veteran stay ahead of the sticks and on time in the play structure...to an extent. He has to show growth as a pocket traverser compared to last season. French was allergic to avoiding sacks (22.8% pressure-to-sack ratio last season, 83rd nationally), while Sorsby was arguably the best in the nation at moving in the pocket and staying upright (6.1% ratio, second-best nationally).

I want to see French going through the wringer in practice, getting hounded in set scenarios consistently and showing the ability to move those feet to better foundation spots and firing downfield after a coverage breakdown.

Cincinnati should have its deepest pass-catching/offensive weapon unit of the Satterfield era to buoy the talent difference at quarterback. Then, it's up to French to execute when the lights brighten.