Final Huddle: Tulane Beats UC 27-24 To End Win Streak At Nippert Stadium

Cincinnati couldn't find enough of a passing game to topple the Tulane rushing attack.

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CINCINNATI — A physical rushing war at Nippert Stadium ended with No. 19 Tulane on top of No. 21 Cincinnati 27-24. 

The Bearcats called on QB Evan Prater, Ryan Montgomery, and Charles McClelland to tap back into a strong rushing game in a ten-point second-half comeback, but it all fell short on a late coverage bust by Arquon Bush and a fourth-down drop by Tyler Scott.

UC had a few untimely penalties play a factor in the loss, ending a 32-game winning streak at Nippert Stadium

The Bearcats are now 14-1 when outrushing the opposition since the start of the 2021 season. They needed every one of those yards in a game that had roughly five plays come down to inches of the football or toe-tapping feet. 

Alas, they ended up on the wrong side against a worthy Green Wave team. The win marked Tulane’s first ranked victory since 1984, the longest streak in the FBS.

Here's the Final Huddle on a classic regular-season finale at Nippert Stadium.

Passing Problems

© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The loss of Ben Bryant meant a clear dropoff in the passing game and it was evident on Saturday. Prater (10-for-26, 102 yards, one INT) was abysmal when he didn't run the football.

His lack of game experience and passing reps was evident against the best pass defense in the AAC. Prater (63.7) posted by far the worst passer rating of the season for UC (only one other game under 118). He looked skittish in the pocket and did not hit open players further into his progressions.

Prater finished just 4-of-11 on passes of five yards or less. It's very hard to stay in front of the chains if you consistently miss layups.

He looked like a player that hasn't played a lot of pressure-cooker football over the last two seasons. Prater made a lot of plays with his feet (18 carries, 83 yards) and helped spark a nice rushing day for UC. Yet, when the chips were down, and UC had to throw in the final quarter, he went 1-of-7 for 21 yards and a sack.

Prater needed more game reps this season to beat a passing defense like this, but that never formulated in 2022.

Tough Tyjae

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The Green Wave is a physical, ground-and-pound team powered by the play of running back Tyjae Spears (35 carries, 181 yards, two TDs). The third-leading rusher in the AAC was fantastic against a decent Bearcats run defense (54th nationally EPA/rush allowed).

Spears defined bell-cow back against Cincinnati, accounting for over 55% of the Green Wave offense while spearheading a decent time of possession gap that forced UC to be efficient with its own chances.

He is the exact type of player that can bust down a 32-game home win streak. His field vision is superb and he maximized the push from Tulane's front all afternoon. On a day where Michael Pratt threw for one of the 12-lowest yardage tallies of his career, Tulane needed all it could get from its lead back.

Tulane had an impressive 49% rushing success rate, including just six stuffed runs.

Ryan Montgomery. Nails.

© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cincinnati had been searching for a lead rusher and a consistent rushing attack over the last month, and they found it with the addition of a true QB threat. 

Montgomery (17 carries, career-high 95 yards, two TDs) was the Bearcats' best red-zone weapon on a team ranked in the 100s in red-zone efficiency heading into Friday. He ran hard like usual but had more open holes thanks to the added zone-read plays with Prater behind center.

Montgomery's 5.6 yards per carry were by far the highest of his career with at least 14 rushes. He stayed efficient and almost did enough with his second touchdown to stamp a 33rd- straight win at Nippert Stadium

Now he and the Bearcats will root fervently for USF to beat UCF and give them a chance to avenge the loss at Tulane next weekend.

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