Venue & Game Info
Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET
Location: Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (Capacity: ~38,088)
Broadcast: ESPN+ Radio: Bearcats Sports Network / Demons Sports Network
Notable: First-ever meeting between the programs; Cincinnati’s final non-conference home game before Big 12 play
Weather Outlook
Forecast: Mostly sunny
Temperature at Kickoff: ~80°F, warming to ~83°F mid-game
Humidity: ~55%
Wind: Light SSW at 4–6 mph
Precipitation:
Impact: Ideal early-fall football weather; no weather-related handicapping adjustments
Injury & Availability Report
Cincinnati:
No major starters ruled out
QB Brendan Sorsby healthy; 402 pass yds, 3 TD, 1 INT, 61.2% comp, plus 136 rush yds and 3 rush TDs
TE Joe Royer (115 rec yds) active
WR Jeff Caldwell (109 rec yds, 1 TD last week) available
Northwestern State:
No major starters ruled out
QB Abram Johnston healthy; 95 pass yds, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 51.7% comp, plus 60 rush yds
WR Kody Finley (29 rec yds) available
Key Splits:
CIN Offense: 201 pass yds/g (86th FBS), 154 rush yds/g (78th)
CIN Defense: 259.5 pass yds/g allowed (113th FBS), 104 rush yds/g allowed (52nd)
NSU Offense: 54 pass yds/g (120th FCS), 100.5 rush yds/g (82nd)
Recent Form
Cincinnati:
W 34–20 vs. Bowling Green — Sorsby 333 pass yds, 3 pass TD, 1 rush TD; defense allowed 20 points
L 27–17 vs. Pitt — struggled to sustain drives; -2 turnover margin
Northwestern State:
L 66–0 at Minnesota — offense managed just 13 pass yds; defense gave up 431 total yds
W 20–17 vs. FCS opponent — balanced attack, late defensive stand
Series History
All-Time: First meeting
Betting Trends
Cincinnati: 33–8 at Nippert Stadium vs. non-AP-ranked teams since 2017
Cincinnati: Lost 6 of last 7 vs. non-AP-ranked teams ATS
Over has hit in 5 of Cincinnati’s last 6 vs. non-FBS opponents
Game Odds
Northwestern State Demons 52.5
Cincinnati Bearcats – 45.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 12, 2025
