Skip to article
The Sporting Page Real Analysis. Not Corporate
The Sporting Page
Loading scores…
Connecting to scores…

College Sports

Cincinnati Ends No. 8 Texas Tech’s Unbeaten Start With 37-24 Win

JC French threw four touchdowns as Cincinnati ended Texas Tech’s unbeaten start.

Cincinnati players celebrate in the end zone.
Cincinnati celebrates against Texas Tech on October 24, 2026. · Credit: Cincinnati Athletics

Cincinnati handed No. 8 Texas Tech its first loss of the season Saturday, winning 37-24 at Nippert Stadium behind four touchdown passes from JC French and a career-high 173 rushing yards from Cole Tabb.

The Bearcats improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12. Texas Tech dropped to 6-1 and 3-1, ending an unbeaten start that had carried the Red Raiders into the top 10.

Cincinnati led 24-6 at halftime after French threw three touchdown passes before the break. The school’s official game report described the result as its first home victory over an AP top-10 opponent since beating Rutgers in 2006.

Tabb’s 58-yard touchdown run with 6:06 remaining stretched the lead to 19 points. French finished 19 of 30 for 172 yards, and Tabb needed 16 carries for his rushing total.

Texas Tech’s postgame notes confirmed the defeat was its first since the January 1 Orange Bowl. Cincinnati next hosts Utah on October 31.

Sources and notes

  1. https://gobearcats.com/news/2026/10/24/bearcats-blast-no-8-texas-tech-37-24-on-homecoming
  2. https://texastech.com/news/2026/10/24/football-postgame-notes-texas-tech-at-cincinnati