CINCINNATI — The most entertaining game of the Scott Satterfield turned into his biggest win to date.
Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby lofted a perfect pass to Caleb Goodie for 82 yards and a game-sealing touchdown with 5:57 left in the fourth quarter to lead the Bearcats past No. 14 Iowa State, 38-30, Saturday on a hot, sunny afternoon at a raucous Nippert Stadium. It was Cincinnati’s first win over a ranked opponent since they beat Houston in the final AAC title game at Nippert in 2022.
Sorsby 13-of-25 for 214 yards and two touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.
The game was marred by officiating that enraged both sidelines, triggered obscene chants from the capacity crowd and caused multiple delays that resulted a game that took three hours, 52 minutes to play.
Rocco Becht completed 29-of-46 passes for 300 yards, two touchdowns and ran for two others. The Bearcats also intercepted him twice.
The Bearcats stopped Iowa State twice on fourth down in the second half, including a 4th-and-1 stop at the Cincinnati 16 that led to the 82-yard dime to Goodie three plays later on third down.
Cincinnati overcame three different first down conversions that were wiped out by penalties, including two consecutive illegal man downfield calls.
There was also a highly questionable defensive pass interference call on corner Matthew McDoom that led to a Cyclones touchdown run by Becht with no time left in the first half, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 31-15 at the half.
Cincinnati exploded out to a 17-0 lead after the first quarter on a bullish 30-yard run by Evan Pryor and a 12-yard Sorsby-to-Joe Royer touchdown connection.
Pryor ran in another touchdown from 18 yards in the second quarter and finished with 111 yards on 10 carries.
Cincinnati welcomes Central Florida to Nippert next Saturday and is likely to be ranked for the first time since 2022.
