5 overreactions to Cincinnati Bearcats opening win vs. Boston College

September 7, 2026 - 00:10

The Bearcats walked out of Nippert Stadium with a win on September 5, and that means it is time to throw all logic out the window. College football fans do not do patience, and Cincinnati is no different. Here are five overreactions to the opener against Boston College that are definitely not based on a full sample size.

First, the defense is clearly back to the old days. One game against a rebuilding offense, and suddenly the Bearcats look like a top-ten unit again. Never mind that Boston College is breaking in a new quarterback and missing its top receiver. The pass rush lived in the backfield, and the secondary broke up everything. The takeaway is simple: no one in the Big 12 is going to score more than 20 points on this group. That is a rock-solid conclusion drawn from sixty minutes of football.

Second, the running game is unstoppable. The offensive line opened up massive holes, and the backs ran with real intent. It looked easy, almost too easy. So the obvious overreaction is that Cincinnati will rush for 250 yards per game all season. Forget that Boston College stacked the box late and still got gashed. The Bearcats have found their identity, and it is smash-mouth. No need to worry about the pass game when you can run it down anyone's throat.

Third, the quarterback is the clear starter. The guy took some hits, made a few nice throws on third down, and managed the game well. That is enough for the fan base to crown him. There is no controversy, no need to look at the backup. He is the guy for the next three years. One clean performance against an ACC team that went 3-9 last year is all the evidence needed.

Fourth, special teams are fixed. The kicker nailed a long field goal, and the punter pinned Boston College deep twice. After years of holding their breath on every punt, Bearcats fans can finally relax. The overreaction here is that this unit will win a game by itself this season. No more worrying about a missed chip shot or a shanked punt flipping field position.

Fifth, the Big 12 title is a lock. Cincinnati beat a Power Four team, so clearly the conference schedule is going to be a cakewalk. Road games at UCF and West Virginia? Easy. Home games against Iowa State and Kansas State? No problem. The win over Boston College proves the Bearcats belong at the top of the league. Anything less than a spot in the conference championship game will be a massive disappointment.

Look, it was a good win. The Bearcats did what they needed to do. But it was one game against a team that is expected to finish near the bottom of the ACC. The real tests are still coming. Still, for one week, let the fans dream big. That is what September is for.