The University of Cincinnati football program announced two future non-conference games.
UC will host Northwestern State on Sept. 13, 2025 and Western Carolina on Sept. 12, 2026.
The Bearcats are 2-0 all-time vs. Northwestern State. The first meeting came in 1977, a 41-0 victory, and the most recent meeting was a 66-9 win on Sept. 14, 2013.
Cincinnati and Western Carolina have met once before. The Bearcats won that game at home, 7-3, on Sept. 17, 2005.
Led by head coach Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati enters its second season in the Big 12. In 2023, the Bearcats ranked fifth in the country in rushing and return 1,000-yard rusher Corey Kiner and their entire offensive line. Cincinnati also brings back All-Americans: right guard Luke Kandra, nose tackle Dontay "The Godfather" Corleone and punter Mason Fletcher.
A pair of historic rivalries return to Nippert Stadium this fall with Pitt coming to town for the first time since 2012 and West Virginia heading to the Queen City for the first time since Isaiah Pead led the Bearcats to a 24-21 victory in 2009. Cincinnati will also open the season against Towson, host Arizona State for the first-time ever and TCU for the first time since 2004. Additionally, Houston returns to Nippert Stadium for the first time since the Bearcats' 35-20 victory in the 2021 AAC Championship.