Cincinnati's stiff defense stymies UCF, sends to sixth straight Big 12 loss

Field Level Media|published: Sat 11th October, 16:02 2025

Oct 11, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats defensive back Jiquan Sanks (9) celebrates a play with safety Xavier Williams (36) in the game against the UCF Knights in the second half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Brendan Sorsby threw for two touchdowns Saturday and Cincinnati's defense kept visiting Central Florida out of the end zone until the last two minutes in a 20-11 Big 12 Conference win in Ohio.

Sorsby completed 12 of 21 passes for 191 yards as the Bearcats (5-1, 3-0 BIg 12) won their fifth straight game since a season-opening loss to Nebraska in Kansas City. By validating their upset win last week over Iowa State with another solid showing, Cincinnati could crawl into the new Top 25 when it's released Sunday.

Knight's Cam Fancher hit 28 of 49 passes for 222 yards while rushing for a game-high 108 yards on 20 attempts for the Knights (3-3, 0-3), which were held to a season-low point total. UCF owned a 413-306 advantage in total yardage and possessed the ball for 39:44 but hurt itself with 10 penalties and a lost fumble.

UCF couldn't generate much of a running game, aside from Fancher's scrambles. Former Bearcats running back Myles Montgomery, who racked up consecutive 100-yard games the last two weeks, was limited to 56 yards on 13 attempts. That included a 22-yard gallop on the game's last play.

Cincinnati initiated scoring at the 8:23 mark of the first quarter when Sorsby found Jeff Caldwell for a 40-yard touchdown. It came four plays after Fancher was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-two at the Bearcats' 41 by Trevon Gola-Callard.

Sorsby and Caldwell hooked up again with 12:12 left in the first half for a 9-yard scoring strike, capping an 83-yard drive that was Cincinnati's best of the day.

Stephen Rusnak added a 32-yard field goal with 4:13 remaining in the half for a 17-0 Cincinnati lead. UCF responded with a 12-play drive, climaxing in a 40-yard field goal from Noe Ruelas with 24 seconds on the clock to make it 17-3 at the break.

Rusnak tacked on a 24-yarder with 13:39 left in the game, his 20th consecutive made field goal. Fancher's 3-yard run with 2:07 remaining capped the scoring and the Knights' third consecutive loss.

--Field Level Media