No. 8 Texas Tech looking to improve to 7-0 against Big 12 rival Cincinnati

Texas Tech and Cincinnati are set to clash on Saturday, marking their first meeting since Brendan Sorsby’s transfer from the Bearcats to the Red Raiders amid gambling allegations. The 8th-ranked Texas Tech aims to extend their 4-game winning streak on the road, while Cincinnati seeks to bounce back from a 45-42 loss to West Virginia.

Sorsby played for Cincinnati in 2024 and 2025 before transferring to Texas Tech, where he now plays under coach Joey McGuire. Red Raiders quarterback Will Hammond has thrown for 1,334 yards and six touchdowns, while backup Tommy Castellanos has contributed with two touchdowns and two rushing scores, averaging 230 passing yards and nearly 38 points per game.

In contrast, Bearcats quarterback JC French IV had a strong performance in the recent loss to West Virginia, throwing for 389 yards and three touchdowns. Cincinnati's offense, led by Cole Tabb's eight rushing touchdowns, has been impressive, but they have struggled with balance on offense. The Red Raiders are looking to secure their fifth 7-0 start in program history, while the Bearcats aim to avoid a repeat of their past two seasons, which ended with five-game losing streaks.

Both teams are aware of the challenges they face, with the Bearcats focusing on both their running and passing games and the Red Raiders honing their disciplined eyes to counter Cincinnati's strong defensive lineup.