Bearcats Beat: By the numbers: Looking at the key facts and figures heading into the Bearcats matchup vs. Nebraska

CINCINNATI — This is a marquee game coming up Thursday night as the Cincinnati Bearcats take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Kansas City.

Cincinnati has an opportunity to beat a Power Four team at a neutral site, but there’s so much more at stake than just that. This is an opportunity to generate momentum that this program hasn’t had in a few seasons.

Today, we’re looking at the key numbers going into this matchup that could be what decides it. These numbers could be related specifically to Cincinnati or Nebraska or they could relate to both teams.

5
That’s the number of consecutive regular-season games the Bearcats have won in NFL stadiums going back to 2019. Those wins include two in Tampa Bay, with the other three coming in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati (Paycor Stadium) and Philadelphia. To be clear, though, those were true road games. They weren’t neutral-site games like Thrusday night’s game is.

Still, though, this is noteworthy going into this matchup. NFL stadiums and their playing surfaces can be, and are, different than college football stadiums and their playing surfaces.

50
Bearcats tight end Joe Royer set the program’s single-season record with 50 receptions in 2024, breaking the record previously held by Travis Kelce set back in 2012.

Royer is back to not only help this team get back to a bowl game but also to improve his rising NFL Draft stock. Look for Royer to have an impact on the way the Bearcats move the ball Thursday night.

4
There are only four Bearcats in program history to be named a team captain three times. One of them is current center Gavin Gerhardt.

The Xenia, Ohio native, Gerhardt is back for his sixth season and fourth as a starter. He brings 35 starts into his season, which is tremendous experience for an offensive line that needs it.

921
That’s the number of snaps Bearcats Freshmen played in 2024, the most for a Bearcats team since 2018.

It’s why that there may be a gradual progression for this program through their first two seasons in the Big 12. This year’s team is more experienced, and there’s also talk about how tight-knit this team is and how its translating on the field at practice.

Watch for linebacker Simeon Coleman and safety Jiquan Sanks on Thursday night. Coleman had 32 tackles and 4.5 tackles-for-loss in 2024, while Sanks added 42 tackles and one tackle for loss.

Overall, the Bearcats have 39 new scholarship players this season and 21 transfer commits.

14
The Bearcats defense forced 14 fumbles in 2024, leading the Big 12. Their 1.17 fumbles forced per game were No. 8 in the country.

STAR Antwan Peek Jr. forced four of those fumbles last season, tying for eighth in school history.

55
Bearcats running back Evan Pryor had four touchdowns of at least 55 yards in 2024, with his longest going for 80 against West Virginia.

3
Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby was one of just three FBS quarterbacks in 2024 to pass for 2,500 yards and 15 touchdowns and rush for nine touchdowns. In addition, he was the only FBS quarterabck with 425+ passing yards and 125+ rushing yards in a game.

1906
That’s the last, and only other, time the Bearcats and Nebraska played in college football history. Nebraska won that game 41-0, so hopefully that doesn’t happen again Thursday night.

2
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, in 2024, became just the second true freshman Big Ten quarterback in the last 25 seasons to eclipse 2,800 passing yards.

4
Nebraska is one of just four teams in the country to rank in the top 20 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense in both 2023 and 2024. The other three programs: Michiagn, Ohio State and Penn State.

10
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule led his previous two college teams he coached to 10 wins in his third season there. Temple went 10-4 in his third season in 2015, while Baylor finished 11-3 in Rhule’s third season in 2019.

Notable Nebraska Cornhuskers in NFL history
Ahman Green
Mick Tinglehoff
Neil Smith
Will Shields
Roger Craig
Ndamukong Suh
Cam Taylor-Britt
Zac Taylor

Notable Nebraska Alumni
Warren Buffett – CEO, Berkshire-Hathaway
Johnny Carson – Host of The Tonight Show
Tom Osborne – Former Nebraska head football coach who led the Cornhuskers to three national championships in the 1990s
Evan Williams – Co-Founder, Twitter