Colorado at Cincinnati - 2026 Matchup Preview

Colorado Buffaloes at Cincinnati Bearcats

Saturday, November 21st 2026 (12:00 PM EST)
Nippert Stadium - Cincinnati, OH (Big 12)

Buffaloes (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Deion Sanders (16 - 21)
Avg Score : 21 - 31 (17 - 35 on Road)
Record Prediction: 4.3 - 7.7 (#76)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 2) (Good: 3) (Avg: 5) (Bad: 1)

CIN is playing their 6th straight game
COLO is playing their 6th straight game
Our Line: Cincinnati -6.5 (SP+ CIN -13)
Projected Score: COLO: 23 - CIN: 30 (53)
CIN Win prob: 68% | Cover: 48%
COLO Travel: 1104 miles, 2 hrs behind

Bearcats (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Scott Satterfield (15 - 22)
Avg Score : 30 - 26 (34 - 20 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 5.3 - 6.7 (#69)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: 2) (Good: 4) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 4)

Matchup
Schedules
COLO Players
CIN Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Colorado's 2026 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 9/3	Colorado at Georgia Tech	+12.5
Sat 9/12	Colorado vs Weber State	-22.5
Sat 9/19	Colorado at Northwestern	+7
Sat 9/26	Colorado at Baylor	+8
Sat 10/3	Colorado vs Texas Tech	+26
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/17	Colorado vs Utah	+16.5
Sat 10/24	Colorado at Oklahoma State	+1
Sat 10/31	Colorado vs Kansas State	+6.5
Sat 11/7	Colorado at Arizona State	+10
Sat 11/14	Colorado vs Houston	+6.5
Sat 11/21	Colorado at Cincinnati	+6.5
Sat 11/28	Colorado vs UCF	+3

Total: Elite: 2, Good: 3, Avg 5, Bad 1, Poor 0
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 2, Good: 3, Avg 5, Bad 1, Poor 0
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Colorado's Schedule

Cincinnati's 2026 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/5	Cincinnati vs Boston College	-8
Sat 9/12	Cincinnati vs Western Carolina	-26
Sat 9/19	Cincinnati vs Miami (OH)	-8
Sat 9/26	Cincinnati vs Kansas State	+2.5
Sat 10/3	Cincinnati at Arizona	+9
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/17	Cincinnati at West Virginia	+0
Sat 10/24	Cincinnati vs Texas Tech	+22
Sat 10/31	Cincinnati vs Utah	+12.5
Sat 11/7	Cincinnati at Houston	+7.5
Sat 11/14	Cincinnati at Iowa State	+7
Sat 11/21	Cincinnati vs Colorado	-6.5
Sat 11/28	Cincinnati at BYU	+17

Total: Elite: 2, Good: 4, Avg 1, Bad 4, Poor 0
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 2, Good: 4, Avg 1, Bad 4, Poor 0
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Cincinnati's Schedule

Important Stats (2025)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
COLO	#99 (.12)	35% (131)	20.9	35% (131)	2.68 (116)	127	35% (122)	203	3.48 (95)	#106 (.21)	43% (87)	30.5	44% (88)	43% (78)	4.01 (102)	49.9	1.4	1.3
CIN	#17 (.29)	46% (25)	30.3	48% (14)	3.47 (4)	177	46% (30)	230	4.6 (11)	#105 (.21)	45% (112)	25.6	47% (120)	43% (85)	3.93 (96)	65.1	1.1	0.8

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
COLO		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
CIN		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2025

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
COLO Offense	12	20.9	16.8	35.2%	3.48	1.4	17	329	127	203	3.6	49%	50%	35%	35%	20%	.12
CIN Defense	13	25.6	19.6	45.2%	3.93	0.8	-	-	-	-	-	54%	45%	47%	43%	12%	.21

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
COLO Defense	12	30.5	35.4	43%	4.01	1.3	-	-	-	-	-	60%	39%	44%	43%	15%	.21
CIN Offense	13	30.3	34.4	46.3%	4.6	1.1	20	408	177	230	5.8	49%	48%	48%	46%	12%	.29

Additional Stats 2025

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Colorado	12	28:49	17.3	38%	33%	5.7	49.9	1.4	1.3	5	1.2	0	28.7
Cincinnati	13	24:16	19.6	39%	72%	7.1	65.1	1.1	0.8	4.2	1.7	1	29.1

Run Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
COLO Offense	12	49% (75)	35% (131)	35.3	126.7	3.6	15 (70)	.05 (103)	2.68 (116)	67% (97)	14% (133)	1.08 (27)
CIN Defense	13	54% (114)	47% (120)	-	-	-	-	.17 (106)	3.3 (126)	79% (117)	8% (116)	0.91 (43)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
COLO Defense	12	60% (133)	44% (88)	-	-	-	-	.11 (72)	2.97 (81)	67% (37)	9% (80)	1.02 (97)
CIN Offense	13	49% (72)	48% (14)	30.8	177.5	5.8	21 (40)	.24 (14)	3.47 (4)	76% (37)	7% (7)	1.05 (35)

Pass Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
COLO Offense	12	50% (59)	35% (122)	17.5	29.7	202.8	6.8	11.6	17 (50)	11 (88)	.22 (84)	1.8 (9)	38% (136)	30% (70)	.32 (62)	6% (72)	2.1 (27)
CIN Defense	13	45% (31)	43% (85)	-	-	-	-	-	-	2 (132)	.27 (79)	1.5 (45)	28% (121)	33% (113)	.35 (98)	4% (128)	1.9 (45)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
COLO Defense	12	39% (4)	43% (78)	-	-	-	-	-	-	6 (100)	.41 (127)	1.8 (132)	31% (77)	29% (70)	.32 (77)	6% (73)	2.2 (116)
CIN Offense	13	48% (75)	46% (30)	17.2	27.9	230.2	8.2	13.4	29 (6)	6 (3)	.42 (14)	1.6 (41)	29% (38)	32% (45)	.43 (24)	5% (42)	2.2 (19)

Colorado's Power Ratings
Colorado's Power Rating: 5.88 #54
Colorado's Offense Rating: 14.28 #63
Colorado's Defense Rating: 13.40 #50
2026 Talent Rating: 738.00 #70
Blue Chip Ratio: 13% #30
Colorado's 2026 Expected Record: 4.3 - 7.7
Colorado's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: -8.3 #96
Colorado's Offense SP+ Rating: 22.6 #103
Colorado's Defense SP+ Rating: 29.5 #88

Average Talent
Average Big 12 Talent Rating is 824
Average Power Five Talent: 910.69
Average FBS Talent: 728.9

Power Ratings Matchup
Colorado: 5.88 Cincinnati: 5.205

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Colorado: -8.3 Cincinnati: 4.5

Cincinnati's Power Ratings
Cincinnati's Power Rating: 5.205 #75
Cincinnati's Offense Rating: 14.84 #58
Cincinnati's Defense Rating: 18.93 #92
2026 Talent Rating: 812.00 #59
Blue Chip Ratio: 2 #73
Cincinnati's 2026 Expected Record: 5.3 - 6.7
Cincinnati's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: 4.5 #56
Cincinnati's Offense SP+ Rating: 30.2 #50
Cincinnati's Defense SP+ Rating: 26.4 #67

Average Talent
Average Big 12 Talent Rating is 824
Average Power Five Talent: 910.69
Average FBS Talent: 728.9

Colorado Scoring
Offense: 20.9 PPG
Offense on Road: 16.8
Defense: 30.5 PPG
Defense on Road: 35.4

Colorado's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
Cincinnati 30
Colorado 23

Projected Total Points: 53

Cincinnati Scoring
Offense: 30.3 PPG
Offense at Home: 34.4
Defense: 25.6 PPG
Defense at Home: 19.6

Cincinnati's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2024	10/26	Colorado	34	Cincinnati	23	Colorado -6.0	Colorado	57.0	Push

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Cincinnati	0	0	0 Overs
Colorado	1	1	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	1 - 0	1 - 0	1 - 0	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 1	0 - 1	0 - 0	0 - 1

(#54) COLO at (#75) CIN

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	COLO	CIN
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#54	#75
SP+SP+	#96	#56
Perf GradeGrade	NR	NR
OffenseOff	NR	NR
DefenseDef	NR	NR
Spec TeamsST	NR	NR
TalentTal	#70	#59
Blue ChipsBC%	#30	#73

Colorado Notes(2/14) Vibes: Shaky, '25 awful, Prime health, Seaton left
(2/25) DC left for NFL, Marve (VT DC) hired
(2/13) DTs Christensen & Hopper both v high PFF grades
(2/7) Prime dealing with real health issues
(2/7) QB Julian Lewis is back after a good Fr season
(2/7) 3 portal RBs could help, both Sac St backs?
(2/7) WR adds are really good/productive. Better unit
(2/7) OL 8 portals, 6 w starting exp. Could be decent?
(2/7) Def added 27 portals 11 DL, 5 LB, 11 DBs
(2/7) DL 6 G5 starters added, LBs actually look decent
(2/7) CBs could be good w all the portal adds. S is ?
(2/7) Def could really improve. Sneaky good portals
Colorado Injury Report

Cincinnati Notes(2/17) Vibes: Uneven, HC ?, lot of grad & portal losses
(2/23) RB Z Perry decent, other #2 guys LY. Good stable
(2/12) New OC Dardwell was Cincy's OL coach (4 yrs)
(2/12) New DC Nate Woody was Army's DC past 6 yrs
(2/9) QB JC French is a good one, has good mobility
(2/9) WR top 4 are portals, 2 FCS, 1 G5. Solid unit though
(2/9) OL has 3 starters back but were really bad LY
(2/9) DBs built from portals, good looking G5 adds
(2/9) LB/DEs strongest unit? 6 w starting exp & prod
(2/9) Def should be decent but Off is a big step back
Cincinnati Injury Report

Colorado on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	COLO Off	CIN Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#131	#112
ExplosiveExp	#4	#17
PPAPPA	#99	#105
PowerPwr	#63	#92
SP+SP+	#103	#67
Pts POPPO	#95	#96
HavocHav	#129	#128

Colorado Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	COLO Off	CIN Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#131	#120
Run ExplRExp	#27	#43
PPAExp	#103	#106
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#116	#126
Stuff RateStuff	#113	#124
TackleTak	-	NR

Colorado Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	COLO Off	CIN Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#122	#85
Pass ExplPExl	#9	#45
PPAExp	#84	#79
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#133	#116
DB HavocDB	#72	#128

Cincinnati on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 48%
CategoryCat	CIN Off	COLO Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#25	#87
ExplosiveExp	#37	#111
PPAPPA	#17	#106
PowerPwr	#58	#50
SP+SP+	#50	#88
Pts POPPO	#11	#102
HavocHav	#12	#80

Cincinnati Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 48%
CategoryCat	CIN Off	COLO Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#14	#88
Run ExplRExp	#35	#97
PPAExp	#14	#72
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#4	#81
Stuff RateStuff	#38	#57
TackleTak	-	NR

Cincinnati Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 48%
CategoryCat	CIN Off	COLO Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#30	#78
Pass ExplPExl	#41	#132
PPAExp	#14	#127
Pass Block/RushP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#7	#80
DB HavocDB	#42	#73

Program Comparison
CIN 5 Year Profile: Consistent Top G5
'26 Profile: Up to Below Avg P4

COLO 5 Year Profile: Declining Average G5
'26 Profile: Remains Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Nippert Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Previous Matchups
Colorado beat Cincinnati in 2024 (34-23)

COLO's OC Brennan Marion (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Julian Lewis	52	94	55%	589	4	0	6.3
Dominiq Ponder	0	1	0%	0	0	0	0.0

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Damian Henderson II (Tr)	91	565	5	6.2	85
Jaquail Smith (Tr)	76	511	5	6.7	45
Micah Welch	96	384	4	4.0	44
Dekalon Taylor	19	83	0	4.4	23

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Danny Scudero (Tr)	88	1297	10	14.7	72
Kamryn Perry	43	976	6	22.7	66
Ernest Campbell (Tr)	37	755	8	20.4	75
DeAndre Moore Jr. (Tr)	38	532	4	14.0	46

View Colorado's Full Roster

COLO's DC Chris Marve (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Gideon Lampron (Tr)	119	18	3	4	1
Naeten Mitchell (Tr)	92	2	0	0	7
Liona Lefau (Tr)	68	2	0	0	3
Randon Fontenette (Tr)	51	7	0	5	6

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Ezra Christensen (Tr)	41	11	5	10	2
Santana Hopper (Tr)	25	9	5	4	0
Vili Taufatofua (Tr)	34	7	4	7	1
Dylan Manuel (Tr)	37	7	3	5	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Justin Eaglin (Tr)	35	0	0	8
Naeten Mitchell (Tr)	92	2	0	7
Randon Fontenette (Tr)	51	7	5	6

CIN's OC Nic Dardwell (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
JC French	249	390	64%	2924	20	8	7.5
Liam O'Brien (Tr)	211	314	67%	2376	19	6	7.6

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Zylan Perry (Tr)	138	689	8	5.0	84
Liam O'Brien (Tr)	138	548	7	4.0	25
Cole Tabb (Tr)	114	445	3	3.9	28
JC French	133	315	6	2.4	21

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Larenzo Fenner (Tr)	41	961	15	23.4	70
Malachi Henry (Tr)	69	889	10	12.9	56
Cade Wolford (Tr)	19	509	7	26.8	79
Isaiah Johnson	14	222	3	15.9	42

View Cincinnati's Full Roster

CIN's DC Nate Woody (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Filip Maciorowski (Tr)	76	6	3	0	2
Jasper Beeler (Tr)	74	1	1	0	2
Jonathan Thompson	67	9	1	2	0
Jacob Finley (Tr)	57	1	0	0	7

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Filip Maciorowski (Tr)	76	6	3	0	2
Chidera Otutu (Tr)	28	3	3	0	0
Mark Cannon Jr.	57	6	2	1	1
Montay Weedon	27	3	2	0	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PD
Ty Goodwill (Tr)	35	5	7
Jacob Finley (Tr)	57	1	7
KK Meier (Tr)	25	0	5