UC Bearcats QB Sorsby is Big 12 Newcomer of Week, UC bowl chances, UCF game time

He likes the numbers, the points and the family and friends who travel to see him, but Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby would have preferred leaving his native Texas with a win.

Though he outdueled fellow Texan Behren Morton in most categories, Morton's Texas Tech Red Raiders prevailed in the Big 12 shootout in Lubbock Saturday night, 44-41 .

"It always stings, it hurts," Sorsby said of the loss. "We've got to find a way to get back on track in this bye week and find a way to get some wins in the column."

Sorsby's performance did not go unnoticed though as Big 12 media voted him the league's Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season. Sorsby set career-highs in passing yards and touchdown passes as he finished 31-for-45 for 427 yards and four touchdowns.

UC had two receivers reach 100 yards as Xzavier Henderson had seven catches for 127 yards and a 42-yard score and running back Manny Covey had his first college touchdown receptions finishing with six catches for 100 yards.

Cincinnati Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield gives Sorsby a thumbs up

"He ran hard, too," UC coach Scott Satterfield said of Sorsby's record night in Lubbock. "He got some tough first downs. When it wasn't open, I thought he scrambled well to keep drives alive. He's fighting his tail off. His teammates see that. When you see your quarterback fighting to get yards, it inspires you. He played very inspired football."

Sorsby played the game wearing a glove on his non-throwing hand due to a thumb injury. He said he had done it previously at Indiana. In five games at UC, he is just 106 yards from his season total last season with the Hoosiers when he played in 11 games and started seven.

Sorsby also won Big 12 Newcomer of the Week in his Bearcats debut passing for 383 yards and two touchdowns and running for two scores.

After Week 5, Brendan Sorsby is among NCAA passing leaders

• No. 8 in total passing yards with 1,481
• Tied for 10th in points responsible for with 90
• Tied for 11th in touchdown passes with 12
• No. 14 in passing yards per game with 296.20
• Tied for 16th in points responsible for per game at 18
• No. 21 in passing efficiency at 165.25
• No. 28 in completions per game at 21.6
• No. 37 in completion percentage at .663

Brendan Sorsby, Xzavier Henderson have been a key Cincinnati Bearcats connection

After leading the Florida Gators in receptions in 2022 and the UC Bearcats last year, He 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior is having a career 2024 season.

• No. 18 in receiving yards with 453
• Tied for No. 21 in receiving touchdowns with four
• No. 22 in receiving yards per game with 90.6
• Tied for No. 22 in receptions per game at 6.4

Cincinnati Bearcats continue putting top offensive numbers on board

• UC is No. 1 in the country with Minnesota, Old Dominion and Iowa State on 4th down conversions going 5-for-5
• The Bearcats are No. 7 in passes had intercepted as Sorsby threw his first pick at Texas Tech.
• UC is No. 11 in first downs with 118
• UC is No. 21 in passing offense averaging 301.2 yards per game.
• UC is No. 42 in scoring at 33.4 points per game
• UC is No. 47 in rushing offense at 183.8 yards per game.

Cincinnati Bearcats defense inconsistent

After shutting out Houston, the Bearcats allowed a season-high 44 points to Texas Tech. It wasn't a total surprise as the Red Raiders are No. 15 in total offense, just above UC's No. 16 rating. Healthy players and improvement is needed though as their Oct. 12 game in Orlando features the No. 4 team in total offense as the Knights average over 543 yards per game and have the No. 10 rusher in R.J. Harvey who has 525 yards. UC just gave up 173 yards to the country's No. 6 rusher Tahj Brooks at Texas Tech.

UC's total defense ranking is no No. 104 among the 133 FBS teams. For comparison purposes, Texas Tech's defense is No. 124. Oddly, on fourth down, the Bearcats defense is No. 16 with a percentage of .273

Cincinnati Bearcats bowl chances? Some project them as having a postseason

At 3-2, the Bearcats need three more wins to technically be eligible, though in recent years bowls have taken in sub.-.500 teams. Brad Crawford of 247Sports, Jerry Palm of CBS and Athlon's Steven Lassan currently don't have the Cincinnati Bearcats on their list. A few prognosticators feel Scott Satterfield's crew will be playing in December.

Birmingham Bowl, Dec. 27, Protective Stadium, noon or 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

The College Football Network has UC against Boston College, a rematch of the Birmingham Bowl from Jan. 2, 2020, when Luke Fickell's Bearcats were American Athletic Conference-East champs, losing to Memphis in the title game. UC beat the Golden Eagles 38-6.

Brett McMurphy of the Action Network also has UC in Birmingham taking on North Carolina State.

Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 27, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, noon or 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

ESPN+ expert Kyle Bonagura has the Cincinnati Bearcats on the campus of TCU in Fort Worth to take on USF. The Bearcats played a bowl game there on Dec. 23, 2004, vs. Marshall under Coach Mark Dantonio winning 32-14. Former Bearcats quarterback coach and current Notre Dame quarterback coach Gino Guidugli was the game MVP.

When is Cincinnati Bearcats vs. UCF Knights Oct. 12?

The Big 12 released a 3:30 kickoff for UC's next game Saturday, Oct. 12 in Orlando against UCF. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

UC will be coming off a bye week, while UCF, coming off a 48-21 defeat at "The Bounce House" to Colorado, goes to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville to face the Florida Gators. UCF is 3-1 (1-1 Big 12) and Florida is 2-2 (1-1 SEC). That kickoff is 7:45 Saturday night. The latest DraftKings odds had UCF a slight favorite.

The Bearcats lost at Nippert Stadium 28-26 last Nov. 4 against UCF. Their last win in Orlando was Nov. 21, 2022 when they held off the Knights 36-33.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcats QB Sorsby is Big 12 Newcomer of Week, UC bowl chances, UCF game time