Kansas State Wildcats at Cincinnati Bearcats

Injuries noted

Kansas State Wildcats: Blake Barnett (out) — Backup quarterback listed out on the initial Big 12 availability report; reporting said he was on crutches and expected to miss the next few weeks.; Jacob Knuth (questionable) — Backup quarterback listed questionable on the initial Big 12 availability report.; Dillon Duff (questionable) — Backup quarterback listed questionable on the initial Big 12 availability report.; Ja'Son Prevard (out) — Safety ruled out on the initial Big 12 availability report.; Oliver Miller (out) — Offensive lineman ruled out on the initial Big 12 availability report.

Cincinnati Bearcats: Aiden Pastoriza (out) — Offensive lineman listed out on the initial Big 12 availability report for this game.; DaMari Witherspoon (out) — Tight end listed out on the initial Big 12 availability report for this game.; Pierce Ayers (out) — Wide receiver listed out on the initial Big 12 availability report for this game.; Filip Maciorowski (questionable) — Inside linebacker listed questionable on the initial Big 12 availability report for this game.

QUARTERBACK

• Avery Johnson is KSU's projected starter

  7.41 Y/A

  Avery Johnson is KSU's projected starting quarterback. Current-week reporting expects Johnson to make his 30th consecutive start; he was not among Kansas State's quarterbacks carrying an availability designation. 2026 line: 608 passing yards, 69.5% completions, 7.41 yards per attempt, 6-2 TD-INT over 3 games.

• JC French IV is CIN's confirmed starter

  7.77 Y/A

  JC French IV is CIN's confirmed starting quarterback. The September 25 official K-State game report states that the Georgia Southern transfer won Cincinnati's starting job. 2026 line: 614 passing yards, 77.2% completions, 7.77 yards per attempt, 5-0 TD-INT over 3 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• KSU: 10 points allowed per game to CIN's 18.7

  8.7 PPG

  KSU is at 10 points allowed per game over 3 games; CIN is at 18.7 over 3 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 25. Last season KSU was at 26.7 over 12 games and CIN at 25.6 over 13 games.

MISMATCH

• KSU: 68.3% on third down to CIN's 54.3%

  68.3 VS 54.3

  Kansas State has converted 68.3% of its third downs through 3 games, and Cincinnati 54.3%. Last season they were at 37.2% and 38.7%. Both rates are far above last year and will almost certainly come down, so neither offense should count on them. Expect more punts than either team's early numbers suggest.

COVERAGE

• KSU: 86.7 passing yards allowed per game to CIN's 207

  120.3 YPG

  Kennesaw State has given up 86.7 passing yards a game over 3 games, while Cincinnati sits at 207. That's a very low figure, and with no opponent detail on the sheet, it's worth asking whether teams simply chose to run on Kennesaw State. Numbers this extreme from three games tend to drift up, so size any read on this pass defense for a step up in competition at Cincinnati.

REPLACEMENT

• Aiden Pastoriza (OL) is out for CIN

  OUT

  Offensive lineman listed out on the initial Big 12 availability report for this game. Avery Johnson could be Kansas State’s only healthy quarterback at Cincinnati (2026-09-24)

• Oliver Miller (OL) is out for KSU

  OUT

  Offensive lineman ruled out on the initial Big 12 availability report. Avery Johnson could be Kansas State’s only healthy quarterback at Cincinnati (2026-09-24)

• Ja'Son Prevard (S) is out for KSU

  OUT

  Safety ruled out on the initial Big 12 availability report. Avery Johnson could be Kansas State’s only healthy quarterback at Cincinnati (2026-09-24)

• DaMari Witherspoon (TE) is out for CIN

  OUT

  Tight end listed out on the initial Big 12 availability report for this game. Avery Johnson could be Kansas State’s only healthy quarterback at Cincinnati (2026-09-24)

• Pierce Ayers (WR) is out for CIN

  OUT

  Wide receiver listed out on the initial Big 12 availability report for this game. Avery Johnson could be Kansas State’s only healthy quarterback at Cincinnati (2026-09-24)

• Blake Barnett (QB) is out for KSU

  OUT

  Backup quarterback listed out on the initial Big 12 availability report; reporting said he was on crutches and expected to miss the next few weeks. Avery Johnson could be Kansas State’s only healthy quarterback at Cincinnati (2026-09-24)

SITUATIONAL

• KSU: 29.7 penalty yards per game to CIN's 66.3

  36.7 YDS

  Kansas State is one of the cleaner teams around at 29.7 penalty yards a game, and it was also disciplined last season at 38.3. Cincinnati is at 66.3, almost identical to 65.1 last season, so the gap reflects who both teams are. In a road game, Kansas State avoiding free yards while Cincinnati gives some away is a steady edge that tends to show up in drive extensions.

• KSU: 68.3% third-down conversion rate to CIN's 54.3%

  14 PP

  Kansas State is converting 68.3% of third downs through three games after 37.2% last season, and Cincinnati is at 54.3% after 38.7%. Both teams are running well above their track records, and those rates almost always fall back. Expect both offenses to stall more than they have so far, so be wary of building expectations for long drives on either side.

• CIN: 2.33 fourth-down attempts per game to KSU's 0.67

  1.67 ATT/G

  KSU is at 0.67 fourth-down attempts per game over 3 games; CIN is at 2.33 over 3 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 25. Last season KSU was at 2.67 over 12 games and CIN at 1.85 over 13 games.