Summer Schedule Preview: Oklahoma State Hosts Cincinnati for Homecoming

The last time the Bearcats showed up for America’s Greatest Homecoming, they got send packing with 30-point loss.

Oklahoma State will host Cincinnati for this year’s Homecoming game. Both teams are looking to bounce back from a disappointing finish to 2024, and both will look a lot different than they did last year.

Make sure you’re up to date on our previous previews: Noncon | Baylor | Arizona | Houston

Week 8: Cincinnati | Oct. 18 | Stillwater, Okla.

Series history: 3-1

Last meeting: OSU 45, UC 13 (2023)

The Bearcats’ last trip to Stillwater landed smackdab in the middle of Ollie Gordon’s historic run. Gordon racked up 271 yards and two scores in the win, following up a 282 and four performance at West Virginia the week before making him the first Cowboy since Barry Sanders to go 250-plus in back-to-back games.

Alan Bowman threw for 286 yards and two scores to one INT. Leon Johnson III had his best game in the FBS with 149 yards on just five catches.

Cincy in 2024: The Bearcats improved slightly in their second season under head coach Scott Satterfield and their second season in the Big 12, but they still failed to go bowling. Cincinnati went 5-7 on the season and 3-6 in the league.

After a 5-2 start — and directly following a win over then-No. 7 Arizona State — Cincinnati finished the season losing five-straight. The Bearcats ranked 13th the Big 12 (just behind the Cowboys) scoring just 25.2 points per game last season.

Cincy’s Offense in 2025: Although they do return their starting QB, the Bearcats had to replace a lot of offensive production from last season including their top rusher, their top receiver and a good chunk of their starting O-line. But they filled some of those holes via the portal. They added receivers Cyrus Allen (Texas A&M), Caleb Goodie (Colorado State) and Jeff Caldwell from the FCS ranks.

UC also brought in four-star offensive tackle Joe Cotton (South Dakota). Most promising may be former Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker. He rushed for 864 yards and 10 scores for the Badgers last year after spending his first two years in reserve duty at Oklahoma. Walker played in that last Bedlam, scoring the Sooners’ final (as yet) touchdown in the rivalry.

Cincy’s Defense in 2025: The Bearcats were at least marginally better on the other side of the ball last year but lost virtually their entire secondary. UC had three safeties leave in the NFL Draft and starting corners via the transfer portal.

They did add a couple transfers to help out, including cornerback Matthew McDoom (Coastal Carolina). He’s a former All-SBC First-Team selection and an All-DB name hall of famer.

Of note: The Cowboys’ win 32-point win over Cincy two years ago is still their largest conference win margin since 2021.