Look: The Athletic Places Cincinnati Near Bottom of Big 12 Projections

A near repeat of last season.

Cincinnati Bearcats players drink water together during football practice, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. / Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

CINCINNATI — The Bearcats have low expectations from The Athletic.

Stewart Mandel revealed his Big 12 standings projection this week and has Cincinnati football finishing 4-8 overall (2-7 in conference). He only projected the Houston Cougars to finish worse among Big 12 teams (3-9, 1-8)

These results would be a disastrous follow-up to the 3-9 2023 campaign. Cincinnati has to find a way to at least fight for a bowl appearance in the final two weeks of the season given how easy this schedule is.

They are slated to play one team ranked in the AP preseason Top 25 (No. 18 Kansas State) and face the 60th-hardest schedule in the country among all FBS teams (10th easiest in Big 12 according to ESPN FPI).

That's a big break for a power conference team and unless star defensive tackle Dontay Corleone doesn't play for most of the season, there isn't much excuse not to hit six wins, let alone five. The depth is stronger (defensive line aside), the quarterback play should be steadier, and the schedule is light.

A bowl game appearance is the minimum bar to clear.

Courtesy: The Athletic /

Subscribe to our YouTube channel on all things Bearcats athletics and Bearcat Blitz on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Bookmark Bearcats Talk for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more.

You may also like:

Takeaways From Cincinnati Football's First Fall Camp Scrimmage

Look: Former Cincinnati Volleyball Player Jordan Thompson Wins Silver at 2024 Paris Olympics

Watch: Highlights During Cincinnati Bearcats' Fall Camp Scrimmage

Watch: Scott Satterfield, Tyson Veidt, Joe Royer And Jared Bartlett Discuss Cincinnati's Fall Camp Scrimmage

Look: Cincinnati Bearcats Center Gavin Gerhardt Named to Rimington Trophy Watchlist

Brendan Sorsby Updates Comfortability With Cincinnati Playbook

Look: Cincinnati Bengals Tee Higgins Notices Funny Mistake on NFL Player Profile

Scott Satterfield Updates Dontay Corleone's Status, Bearcats Defensive Line Depth

Tyler Betsey Dives Into Process of Becoming a Cincinnati Bearcat

Recruiting Roundup: Cincinnati Makes Top Schools For Three-Star 2025 Guard Cameron Wallace

Watch: Cincinnati Football Highlights From Opening Days at Camp Higher Ground

Look: Travis Kelce Named Top-10 Player in NFL Top 100

Look: Bearcats Reveal Uniform Combination For Opening Game Against Towson

Report: Cincinnati Football Facing Bowling Green As Final 2025 Non-Conference Opponent

Watch: Brendan Sorsby Laces Deep Ball to Xzavier Henderson

Cincinnati Reds Trade for Bearcats Alum Joey Wiemer in Deadline Deal With Milwaukee Brewers

Look: Sauce Gardner Ranked Outside NFL's 30 Best Players on NFL Top 100

Tyler McKinley Ready to Help Cincinnati Get Back to Dominance: 'UC is Known For Basketball'

Look: Cincinnati Football RB Corey Kiner Named to 2024 Maxwell Award Watchlist

Cincinnati Notches Commitment From Three-Star 2025 Wide Receiver Giyahni Kontosis

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on Bearcats Talk all the time!

Follow All Bearcats on Twitter: @BearcatsTalk

Like All Bearcats on Facebook: All Bearcats