Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Kansas State Big 12 opener score, highlights

On September 26, 2026, the Cincinnati Bearcats hosted the Kansas State Wildcats in the Big 12 opener at Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats, who lead the overall series 4-3 against Kansas State, had not won since 1966. Kansas State had won a recent matchup with Cincinnati in Manhattan by a score of 41-15, with senior quarterback Avery Johnson at the helm.

This visit to Cincinnati marked the second night of the Bearcats' season, a tradition that has seen the Bearcats win 40 of their 56 such games since 2006. Kansas State's last appearance in Cincinnati was in 1995 when they narrowly lost a heartbreak game on a last-second touchdown pass. Both teams have started their respective seasons with a perfect 3-0 record.

The Bearcats have yet to travel outside of Cincinnati, while Kansas State played three consecutive games at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The upcoming season promises more travel for the Bearcats, with eight games in total, four of which will be played against teams in the Top 25. Five of the next eight games will be played away, starting with an 11 p.m. (Eastern) kickoff against Arizona on October 3.

Kansas State also has five remaining road games in their upcoming eight matches, with only one of these yet to face a ranked opponent as they host Houston on October 10. The Bearcats and Wildcats have shown similar statistics in previous encounters, with both teams averaging around 45 points per game and 269.7 rushing yards per game. Their average passing yards are evenly matched at 222 per contest.