Cincinnati Bearcats at Arizona Wildcats

Injuries noted

Arizona Wildcats: Cole Rusk (out) — Starting tight end reported out against Cincinnati with a lower-leg injury in the September 30 Big 12 availability update; the October 3 game preview also reports him out.

QUARTERBACK

• JC French IV is CIN's projected starter

  8.47 Y/A

  JC French IV is CIN's projected starting quarterback. The October 3 Arizona Daily Star game preview explicitly lists French in Cincinnati's projected starting offense. Cincinnati's September 29 Arizona-week press conference also discusses his preparation for this game; neither is a confirmed game-day lineup. 2026 line: 779 passing yards, 75.0% completions, 8.47 yards per attempt, 6-0 TD-INT over 4 games.

• Noah Fifita is ARIZ's projected starter

  8.57 Y/A

  Noah Fifita is ARIZ's projected starting quarterback. The October 3 Arizona Daily Star game preview explicitly lists Fifita in its projected starting offense against Cincinnati; this establishes a projected starter, not a confirmed game-day lineup. 2026 line: 1114 passing yards, 75.4% completions, 8.57 yards per attempt, 11-2 TD-INT over 4 games.

TRENCHES

• CIN: 258.8 rushing yards per game to ARIZ's 134.3

  124.5 YPG

  Cincinnati runs for 258.8 yards a game through 4 games, almost double Arizona's 134.3. That's a big jump from 176.1 last season, so expect some regression on the road. The run game is still clearly how Cincinnati wants to play. Their ability to control the ball collides with Arizona's passing offense, so the pace of the game is the thing to think about.

PACE & SCRIPT

• CIN: 40.5 points per game to ARIZ's 32

  8.5 PPG

  CIN is at 40.5 points per game over 4 games; ARIZ is at 32 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 2. Last season CIN was at 30.3 over 13 games and ARIZ at 31.5 over 13 games.

MISMATCH

• CIN: 258.8 rush yards a game to ARIZ's 134.3

  258.8 VS 134.3

  Cincinnati is running for 258.8 a game over 4 games, up sharply from 176.1 last season, while Arizona has dipped to 134.3 from 152.4. Cincinnati's jump is big enough that some cooling is likely, but even a step back keeps them ahead on the ground. Arizona at home needs to win early downs against the run, or they spend the night chasing a team grinding the clock.

REPLACEMENT

• Cole Rusk (TE) is out for ARIZ

  OUT

  Starting tight end reported out against Cincinnati with a lower-leg injury in the September 30 Big 12 availability update; the October 3 game preview also reports him out. Cole Rusk Injury: Out for Week 5 — RotoWire (2026-09-30) Starters, key matchups and a prediction for Arizona vs. Cincinnati — Arizona Daily Star, Justin Spears (2026-10-03)

SITUATIONAL

• ARIZ: 299.5 team passing yards per game to CIN's 203.5

  96 YPG

  Arizona throws for 299.5 a game over 4 games, Cincinnati 203.5. Arizona is up from 255.2 last season, so some regression is likely, though passing is their identity. This collides directly with Cincinnati's heavy run game. Whichever side controls the pace and possessions has the clearer edge in how this game gets played.

TEAM RECORD

• Big 12 game: CIN 1-0, ARIZ 0-1 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big 12. CIN is 1-0 against it, ARIZ is 0-1. 2026 standings through 2026-10-03.

AFTER GARY

• CIN +6.5 → +7.5

  NOW +1

  Gary's number was 6.5; the same book now shows 7.5.