ESPN Lists Cincinnati Bearcats as FBS Team Likely to Rebound in 2024

Cincinnati had its worst record this century last season.

Players huddle before a scrimmage, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. / Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

CINCINNATI — ESPN's Bill Connelly sees the Bearcats football team bouncing back a bit in 2024. He listed them as an FBS team most likely to rebound from their 2023 stumble.

Cincinnati went 3-9 last season and finished 87th in SP+, as Connelly's system projects them at roughly 5.1 wins and a jump to 70th nationally this fall.

"Timing your power conference jump is hard sometimes," Connelly wrote. After reaching the CFP as an AAC team in 2021, Cincinnati slipped outside the SP+ top 30 and then lost head coach Luke Fickell just as it was time to join the Big 12. The Bearcats rejoined the power conference ranks with their worst team in at least six years. Throw in a 1-4 record in one-score finishes, and Scott Satterfield's first season was an abject disaster.

"Most of the Bearcats' best players return (running back Corey Kiner, receiver Xavier Henderson, defensive tackle Dontay Corleone, linebacker Jack Dingle), and Satterfield was not shy about addressing needs in the portal, bringing in 25 transfers. This should be a deeper and more talented team, and hey, the bar's really, really low after going 3-9. A fast start -- the Bearcats are projected favorites in three of their first four games -- could prompt a lovely turnaround."

Cincinnati should be able to get multiple one-score-game wins this season as they faced some brutal luck on that front in 2023. 

If they can raise the level of offensive play in the red zone, give up fewer big plays on defense, and get a healthy snap diet out of Corleone, Cincinnati should be hunting a bowl berth down this year.

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