No. 25 Cincinnati controls their own fate in Big 12 race facing Arizona originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Cincinnati continues its push toward a Big 12 championship berth when the No. 25 Bearcats host Arizona on Friday at Nippert Stadium.
The Bearcats (7-2) control their path to Arlington but must first get past an Arizona team that head coach Scott Satterfield said easily could be 8-1 after losses to BYU and Houston.
The Wildcats (6-3) have won two straight and boast one of the nations top defensive units, ranking seventh in passing defense and 17th overall.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita leads an offense averaging 406 yards per game, throwing for 2,200 yards with 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Running back Ismail Mahdi, who averages 6.8 yards per carry, anchors a balanced rushing attack. The Wildcats also enter with a plus-eight turnover margin, tied for 10th nationally.
Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby has thrown 20 touchdowns with only two interceptions, and receiver Cyrus Allen, whose nine touchdown catches rank among the Big 12s best.
The Bearcats average 35.6 points per game and nearly 200 rushing yards, but penalties remain a major concern. Cincinnati ranks 129th nationally in penalty yards per game.
Defensively, the Bearcats will lean on a red zone unit allowing scores on just 77.4% of opponent trips, good for 22nd in FBS. That matches up well against an Arizona offense that ranks 78th in red zone efficiency.
Cincinnati is looking to bounce back from a 45-14 loss at Utah, while Arizona aims to build on its 24-20 win over Kansas. With a showdown against No. 12 BYU next week, the Bearcats know Fridays matchup is critical to keeping their Big 12 title and CFP hopes intact.
Cincinnati hosts Arizona on Saturday (Noon ET, FS1).