Cincinnati Bearcats Upset No. 14 Iowa State With 38-30 Big 12 Victory

The Cincinnati Bearcats defeated No. 14 Iowa State Cyclones 38-30, leveraging a strong 17-point first quarter and key performances from Brendan Sorsby and Evan Pryor. Despite Iowa State's rally in the second half, Cincinnati held on by recovering a critical onside kick. Iowa State, dealing with significant injuries including the loss of key defensive backs Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams, struggled particularly on defense and was ultimately outmatched by Cincinnati's balanced offensive attack. This loss marks Iowa State's first of the season, potentially impacting their AP Poll ranking and College Football Playoff chances, especially as they face increased pressure to win the Big 12. Cincinnati's win was their first over a ranked opponent at home since 2021 and signals their improvement this season under coach Scott Satterfield. Both teams will continue Big 12 play next week, with Iowa State visiting Colorado and Cincinnati hosting UCF.