Cincinnati, OH– Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby delivered an impressive performance, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another, leading the Bearcats to a dominant 34-0 victory over Houston. The Bearcats’ defense was equally formidable, holding the Cougars scoreless throughout the game.
This marked Cincinnati’s first shutout win since November 3, 2018, when they defeated Navy 42-0 at Nippert Stadium. Houston became the first Power Four conference team to be shut out this season, and it was the Bearcats’ first shutout of a Power Four opponent since they blanked Virginia Tech in 1995.
With this win, Cincinnati (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) matched their total number of victories from the 2023 season.
“Shutouts are rare in college football, and it speaks volumes about our defense,” said Cincinnati’s veteran safety Derrick Canteen. “This team is hungry and playing with a chip on its shoulder.”
Sorsby’s touchdown passes, both to wide receiver Xzavier Henderson, came in the first half from 19 and 15 yards. The first touchdown followed a key interception by safety Josh Minkins Jr., marking Cincinnati’s third consecutive game with an interception on the opponent’s opening drive.
“Henderson’s one-on-one on those fades, and I just trust him to make the play,” Sorsby explained. “It’s all about giving him a shot to come down with it.”
Cincinnati quickly built a commanding 21-0 lead by the early second quarter, with two of their three consecutive scoring drives covering 80 yards, while the third spanned 45 yards.
In his debut season as Cincinnati’s quarterback, Sorsby continued his streak of pass attempts without an interception, extending it to 118 — the second-longest in college football heading into the weekend.
“I felt calm and in control out there,” said Sorsby. “With Mason Fletcher as our punter, I know we can pin teams deep if we don’t convert on third down, so I’m not forcing anything or taking unnecessary risks.”
Houston’s offense struggled throughout the game, managing only 233 total yards. The Cougars were also penalized seven times for 68 yards, compounding their issues.
Turnovers proved costly for Houston, with three giveaways stalling their progress. Their best scoring opportunity came in the second quarter when kicker Joseph Kim missed a 32-yard field goal attempt, one of only two drives that took them into the red zone.
“We had some momentum at times, but self-inflicted mistakes held us back,” said Houston coach Fritz. “I told the team several times, we aren’t talented enough to just show up and win; we need to play cleaner football.”
The Cougars’ offensive struggles continue, as they’ve scored just 26 points across four games, reaching double digits only twice.
“We scored 33 points last week, and now we get shut out,” said Houston offensive lineman Tank Jenkins. “That’s tough to accept.”
