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Homecoming could be aerial display between UC Bearcats, Texas Tech

The Cincinnati Bearcats will host their 100th Homecoming game at Nippert Stadium on October 24, facing an undefeated, No. 8 ranked Texas Tech squad.

While former UC quarterback Brendan Sorsby was expected to play for the Red Raiders, gambling violations from his time at Indiana rendered him ineligible, leading him to prepare for the 2027 NFL Draft in Dallas-Fort Worth. Texas Tech's Will Hammond, who has a 70.6 quarterback rating and 1,334 passing yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions, leads the 6-0 team.

He is occasionally supported by Thomas Castellanos, a former Florida State player who returned to college football after NFL rookie minicamps with the Titans and Dolphins.

UC's JC French IV leads with 1,339 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and zero interceptions, though his 62.3 rating is lower than Hammond's. The Bearcats rank 11th in rushing with 231.2 yards per game, while Texas Tech is 38th at 192.5, yet the Red Raiders' rush defense is fourth overall, allowing only 82 yards per game.

Coach Scott Satterfield emphasized the need for a strong offensive line against a top-tier defensive front, while French noted the balanced attack is crucial. Additionally, punter Max Fletcher, an Australian fifth-year player averaging 46.3 yards per kick, earned a spot on the Ray Guy Award's Ray's 8 list following a performance against West Virginia that included 66-yard and 59-yard punts.

Historically, Texas Tech leads the series 1-0-1, with a first meeting ending in a 10-10 tie in Lubbock and a 2024 loss for UC in a 44-41 game where Sorsby threw for 426 yards and four touchdowns.

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