The Cincinnati Bearcats are heading to Las Vegas for Big 12 Media Days as Scott Satterfield prepares for the program’s second season in the conference.
Jumping from the Group of Five to a Power Five conference (now Power Four) wasn’t a seamless transition for one of the new members of the college football elite, falling to 3-9 last year. Looking to bounce back, what are the three biggest questions Satterfield is set to face at Big 12 Media Days?
Three Most Significant Questions for Scott Satterfield at Big 12 Media Days
1) Will Brendan Soresby or Brady Lichtenberg Start at Quarterback?
Satterfield wasn’t satisfied with his signal-caller following his first season in Cincinnati. As is common practice in the modern college football era, he landed his next field general in the transfer portal, Indiana’s Brendan Soresby. In seven starts with the Hoosiers last year, Soresby tossed for 1,587 yards, 15 TDs to five INTs, while rushing for another 286 yards and four scores.
Soresby feels destined to be the starter, but Satterfield hasn’t named Cincinnati’s QB1 after a spring competition with Brady Lichtenberg, who has bided his time the last three seasons as a backup with the Bearcats. He appeared in seven games last year while completing 19-34 (56%) passes for 252 yards, two TDs, and a pick, adding 80 yards rushing and a score.
2) How Are the Returning Offensive Starters Meshing With New Players?
Cincinnati’s offense had many issues last year, so it might not sound terribly thrilling that eight starters, including all five starting OLs, are back for the Bearcats. Continuity, specifically on the offensive line, is a huge necessity for Satterfield’s second season, but so is an infusion of new talent.
Including the aforementioned Soresby, Satterfield has added 25 players from the transfer portal. Blending those new players with the returners and finding a balance with playing time for everyone involved is paramount for the Bearcats’ improvement in 2024.
3) Besides Personnel, What Schematic Changes Have Been Made To Fix the Offense?
Cincinnati finished 12th in passing offense (209 yards per game), 11th in scoring offense (24.1 points per game), and ninth in total offense (426.1 yards per game) among the 14 teams in the Big 12 last fall. Its one saving grace was the run game, finishing third in the conference with 217.1 yards per game.
Satterfield has always favored a run-focused attack, but his spread-option strategy didn’t do so hot in a conference that usually prefers to air it out. Whether he plans to adapt to his surroundings or make his surroundings adapt to him will be an interesting question at Big 12 Media Days.
Big 12 Media Days Schedule: Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati Head Coach
- Date: Tuesday, July 9
- Time: 2:40 p.m. ET
- How to watch: ESPN+
Satterfield is 28-33 since leaving his post at Appalachian State in 2018, where he went 51-24 in six years with the Mountaineers. Meanwhile, he hasn’t won a bowl game since his first year at Louisville in 2019.
The Bearcats — and Satterfield — need the 2024 college football campaign to be a success so that both can prove they belong in the Big 12.
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