The big picture

BYU Cougars are 7–2 in College Football (NCAA) 2026, averaging 31 points for and 19.8 against.

Cincinnati Bearcats are 5–4 in College Football (NCAA) 2026, averaging 33 points for and 29.4 against.

Form

BYU Cougars have won three of their last five and most recently lost to Utah Utes 20–28.

Cincinnati Bearcats have won one of their last five and most recently lost to Houston Cougars 24–31.

Head to head

These sides have met 4 times on our records since 2015: BYU Cougars 4, Cincinnati Bearcats 0.

Last time out (2025, Week 13), BYU Cougars won 26–14 at Nippert Stadium.

BYU Cougars have won the last four against Cincinnati Bearcats.

Biggest margin between these two: BYU Cougars by 17 points in 2016 (20–3).

Players to watch

For BYU Cougars, watch AJ Vongphachanh (7.5 def total tackles a game in 2023) and Max Tooley (7.3 def total tackles a game in 2023).

For Cincinnati Bearcats, watch Deshawn Pace (7.5 def total tackles a game, 1 def sack in 2023) and Jonathan Thompson (4.7 def total tackles a game in 2023).

At LaVell Edwards Stadium

BYU Cougars have won 16 of their last 19 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The deeper numbers

BYU Cougars have won their last 12 games at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, BYU Cougars go in as clear favourites.