Kansas State vs Cincinnati Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 26, 2026

The Kansas State Wildcats (3-0) face off against the Cincinnati Bearcats (3-0) at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday. Get involved in the action with our free College Football picks.

Kansas State vs. Cincinnati Game Information

• September 26, 2026
• 7:00 PM EST
• Nippert Stadium
• ESPN2

Cincinnati Form & Recent Results

The Bearcats are riding an absolute wave of momentum right now, bursting out of the gates to string together a thrilling three-game winning streak to open up their college football season. Their resilience was put to the ultimate test just last weekend during an absolute barnburner against local rivals Miami (OH), where they dug deep to secure a gritty 35-31 victory. A massive chunk of that offensive success belongs to quarterback JC French IV, who looked like an absolute surgical technician under center by completing a phenomenal 31-for-43 passes and throwing for two critical touchdowns. He had plenty of explosive help from the backfield courtesy of running back Cole Tabb, who made every single touch count by exploding for an incredible 78 rushing yards and hitting paydirt with two touchdowns on a mere six carries. When French decided to attack through the air, wide receiver JV Gibson acted as his ultimate security blanket and a constant thorn in the defense's side, moving the chains with seven clutch receptions for 68 receiving yards and a touchdown of his own. Meanwhile, the defensive side of the ball found its undisputed anchor in linebacker Antwan Peek Jr., who flew across the gridiron to rack up nine crucial tackles to slow down the Redhawks' potent attack.

When you take a step back and look at the collective team stat sheet from that dramatic weekend, Cincinnati completely dominated the rhythm of the game by racking up a massive 446 total yards of offense and chaining together 25 first downs to keep the clock moving in their favor. Despite suffering one minor hiccup with a single turnover, the Bearcats displayed ice-cold composure and immense trust in their coaching staff by successfully converting a high-stakes 3-for-4 on fourth-down attempts. This high-octane offensive output is quickly becoming the identity of this year's squad, which has been absolutely lighting up scoreboard monitors to average a staggering 43.7 points per game over their perfect three-game stretch. However, all that early-season success is about to face its most grueling reality check yet this coming Saturday. The Bearcats are bracing themselves for one of the toughest, most defining tests of their entire schedule as they welcome another powerhouse, undefeated squad in Kansas State right into their home stadium for a highly anticipated, high-stakes battle.

Kansas State Form & Recent Results

Kansas State comes into this upcoming matchup with plenty of momentum, as the Wildcats have opened the season with three straight victories and have looked impressive on both sides of the ball. Their most recent win came at home against Tulane, where they earned a solid 31-20 victory and continued to show why they are a team to keep an eye on early in the season. Quarterback Avery Johnson played a major role in that performance, putting together a strong and efficient outing through the air while also making a huge impact with his legs. Johnson completed 21 of his 28 pass attempts for 227 yards, showing accuracy and control in the passing game. On top of that, he was one of the biggest difference-makers as a runner, carrying the ball 12 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns. His ability to create plays in multiple ways gave Tulane problems throughout the game and helped Kansas State stay in control.

The Wildcats also received a strong contribution from wide receiver Jaron Tibbs, who finished with nine catches for 114 yards and became a reliable target in the passing attack. Defensively, safety Wesley Fair helped lead the way with eight tackles, giving Kansas State a steady presence on that side of the field. As a team, the Wildcats finished the game with 428 total yards, avoided turning the ball over, picked up 21 first downs, and were very effective in key situations, converting 10 of their 16 third-down attempts while also going 1-for-1 on fourth down. Now, Kansas State will travel to Cincinnati for a matchup against a Bearcats team that is also undefeated, making this a very intriguing early-season test. The Wildcats will be looking to prove they can carry their strong start on the road and return home with their perfect record still intact. Through the first three games of the season, Kansas State has been excellent offensively, averaging 45.3 points per game and showing that they have the firepower to challenge any opponent on their schedule.

Key Stats

• KSU’s Avery Johnson this season: 58-for-83, 6 TDs, 2 INT
• CIN’s JC French IV this season: 62-for-81, 5 TDs

Betting Odds & Market Overview:

• KSU -6.5; O/U 55.5

Kansas State vs. Cincinnati Picks and Prediction

The Wildcats and Bearcats both come into Saturday night’s matchup in Cincinnati undefeated, but one of them will leave with their first loss of the season. Through their first three games, the two teams have put up similar scoring numbers, making this a matchup that should challenge both sides more than anything they’ve faced so far. Look for this to be a close one to the very end. Final Score Prediction, Kansas State Wildcats win but fail to cover the spread, 29-25.