Cincinnati Hands Eddie George First FBS Loss with 34-20 Victory Over Bowling Green

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Brendan Sorsby threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Cincinnati Bearcats handed Bowling Green and first-year FBS head coach Eddie George a 34-20 loss Saturday at Nippert Stadium. It was George's first defeat since making the jump from FCS Tennessee State to Bowling Green this offseason. The former Ohio State Heisman Trophy winner entered with high expectations and a wave of attention, but Cincinnati (1-1) overwhelmed the Falcons (1-1) early and never looked back. Sorsby, the Bearcats' new starting quarterback, finished with 333 passing yards, hitting Cyrus Allen for touchdowns of 44 and 2 yards in the first half. He later connected with Jeff Caldwell on a 9-yard score before capping his performance with a 27-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to make it 31-10. “There were a lot of questions about throwing the ball," Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield said postgame. “Sorsby threw the ball well. Our guys made some great catches and had a lot of yards after catches.” Cincinnati used a quick passing game to neutralize the Falcons' defense and control possession throughout the contest. Bowling Green struggled to find rhythm early, with George opting for field position over risk. Twice in the first half, the Falcons punted on short fourth downs—once from their own 47-yard line and again from the Cincinnati 41. The latter decision proved costly, as Cincinnati promptly marched 89 yards for its third touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

“Looking at the flow of the game, down 14-0—I didn't want to give them a short field,” George explained. “I wanted to be conservative until I got a good feel from my offense.”

The Falcons showed some life in the second half, cutting the deficit to 24-10 with a field goal, and later adding a touchdown from quarterback Drew Pyne to Jyrin Johnson. Pyne, a well-traveled transfer who has started games at Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Missouri, threw for 274 yards in the loss.

A notable fourth-down stand by Cincinnati's defense early in the third quarter kept momentum firmly in the Bearcats' favor. On fourth-and-2 from the Cincinnati 12, UCLA transfer Leo Kemp was stuffed for a 1-yard gain by linebacker Jake Golday.

Cincinnati star nose tackle Donte Corleone, a two-time All-American, exited twice with an ankle injury and did not return in the second half. “We'll re-evaluate but I think he'll be fine,” said Satterfield. It was a family affair for Bowling Green, as Eriq George, Eddie’s son, started at defensive end. Ian van der Merwe, son of Falcons athletic director Derek van der Merwe, also played on the defensive line. According to Bowling Green, it marked the first time in FBS history a head coach and athletic director each had sons playing on the same team.

Historic Win for Cincinnati

The win was Cincinnati’s first ever over Bowling Green, snapping an 0-4 all-time record. The two teams last met in 1994, when the Falcons shut out the Bearcats 38-0 in one of the darkest days in Cincinnati football history.

What’s Next

Cincinnati (1-1) looks to carry momentum into next week’s road matchup against Pitt. Bowling Green (1-1) returns home to face Liberty.