Game 1: Cincinnati v Towson Preview
Football is back.
The Bearcats will kick off the 2024 season inside Nippert Stadium Saturday afternoon in a 2:30 pm kickoff against the Towson Tigers.
Towson, an FCS opponent, is coming off a 5-6 season in Head Coach Pete Shinnick's first season guiding the program. Shinnick faced similar adversity that Scott Satterfield faced in his first season leading the Bearcats, trying to find the right balance between old and new additions to the program, as well as implementing a culture and identity.
Towson returns seven starters on offense, including redshirt senior quarterback Nathan Kent.
(Photo: Towson Athletics)
Kent started all 11 games last season, completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,123 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions and carried the ball 82 times for 288 yards and three touchdowns. UMass transfer Carlos Davis was also brought in to compete with Kent this off-season and add depth to the quarterback position after connecting on 61.4% of his throws for 886 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions in four games.
Towson's offense features 6-foot-6 tight end Carter Runyon, who has been racking up preseason honors, including a place on the 2024 Shrine Bowl 1000 as well as being selected to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.
The redshirt senior was the first-ever Towson DI tight end to earn All-America honors last year, being named 2024 STATS Perform FCS Preseason All-America First Team going into this season. In his first year with Towson in 2023, the Associated Press and STATS Perform All-American earned 43 catches for 549 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, Towson returns just three starters from last season's squad.
Redshirt junior inside linebacker Evan Rutkowski, redshirt junior cornerback Shafeek Smith and redshirt senior defensive end Brockman Wallace II will be looked upon to fill gaps and contribute within the defense immediately.
Earlier in the week, Scott Satterfield discussed what he has seen from Towson throughout their preparation for the season opener:
One area that Cincinnati really struggled in last season was defending the pass, particularly when teams would try to stretch the defense and beat the Bearcats over the top.
A primary focus this off season was to get longer, more athletic, and quicker in new defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt's three-high safety look. Satterfield discussed what Towson likes to do offensively and what his team needs to do to counter the offensive gameplan of the Tigers.
While Towson is primarily known for spreading the ball around through the air, 5-foot-9 redshirt senior running back Devin Matthews will be counted on to carry the load out of the backfield for Towson, after leading the team in rushes with 148, rushing yards with 656 and rushing touchdowns with 10 last season.
Of the seven returning offensive starters for Towson, four are on the offensive line so there is consistency in what the Tigers will want to do on the ground in game one.
Scott Satterfield discussed that dynamic of Towson's offense in week one.
Cincinnati is in a similar position offensively, returning all five offensive linemen from a group that finished sixth nationally in rushing last season, as well as 1,000 yard running back Corey Kiner.
Towson head coach Pete Shinnick discussed the type of challenge that UC's run game presents for his defense, as well as how tough of a runner Corey Kiner is to handle.
Final Thoughts:
This is a game that Cincinnati should be able to physically dominate on the ground.
Brendan Sorsby has looked good throughout the offseason in the pass game and has shown an ability to consistently connect on the deep ball, which the Bearcats offense sorely missed last season.
With an improved tight end room, led by Joe Royer, as well as returning receiver Xzavier Henderson out wide, Sorsby has plenty of weapons at his disposal.
Look for the defense to rotate a lot of guys to try to stay fresh and healthy heading into a week two home match up against Pitt.
Vegas has UC as a 31.5 point favorite.
Final Score: Cincinnati 45 Towson 7