Scott Satterfield enters his fourth season at Cincinnati following a 7-6 overall and 5-4 Big 12 campaign in 2025. Cincinnati faces major offensive turnover, with Nic Cardwell and Pete Thomas taking over as co-offensive coordinators and Georgia Southern transfer J.C. French joining at quarterback after Brendan Sorsby’s departure. The Bearcats will feature a new-look backfield following the departure of Tawee Walker, with Zion Johnson returning and Louisiana transfer Zylan Perry joining the group. Cincinnati must replace its top six receivers from last season, including Cyrus Allen, who led the Big 12 with 51 receptions and 13 touchdown catches. Isaiah Johnson returns in the receiving corps, while Oklahoma transfer J.V. Gibson and Central Arkansas transfer Malachi Henry join the group. The offensive line returns Joe Cotton, Evan Tengesdahl, and Taren Tyo, all of whom started each of Cincinnati’s 13 games last season.

Nate Woody takes over as defensive coordinator, and Cincinnati faces major turnover on that side of the ball as well. The Bearcats return three of their top eleven tacklers from last season after losing four of their top five, including leading tackler Jake Golday. All three returning top-11 tacklers come from the linebacker group: Jonathan Thompson, Antwan Peek Jr., and Simeon Coleman. Marquaze Parker returns along the defensive line, while Northern Illinois transfers Jacob Finley and Jasper Beeler and Bowling Green transfer M.J. Cannon join the secondary. Woody will install a 3-4 defense after Cincinnati previously operated primarily from a 3-3-5 alignment.

Luke Paschall enters his second season as special teams coordinator. Stephen Rusnak returns at placekicker, while Max Fletcher returns at punter. Kent State transfer Cade Wolford joins the program with experience in both kickoff and punt returns. Cincinnati enters 2026 with new coordinators on offense and defense and major personnel turnover at quarterback, running back, receiver, and throughout the defense.