Cincinnati, coming off an emotional, draining loss to Memphis last Thursday, came home and beat Miami, 34-23. Hayden Moore failed to replicate his record-setting performance for the Bearcats, but he outdueled Brad Kaaya and guided the offense to 446 total yards.
Miami vs. Cincinnati final score, with 3 things to know from the Bearcats’ 34-23 win
The Hurricanes were handed their first loss of the year on Thursday night in Cincinnati, and Al Golden’s long-term future is uncertain.
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Both teams came out firing, putting together quick scoring drives throughout the first half. The best play of the half was inarguably this disappearing-reappearing act by Cincinnati’s Hosey Williams, who took it to the house from 29 yards out.
Unfortunately, the game did not remain this fun. They went into halftime with the score, 27-20, for Cincinnati, and both teams were dreadful for much of the second half. But Cincinnati struck a deep blow with just under seven minutes remaining when Tyler Cogswell hauled in a seven yard touchdown pass to make it, 34-23. The ensuing Miami drive ended with an unsuccessful fourth and goal attempt, and Cincinnati was able to choke out the rest of the game.
Three things to know
1. Consistent inconsistency. This was an odd game. Both teams moved the ball and put up points in the first half, but it all fell apart and the defenses started to make plays in the second half. Outside of the first few minutes for Cincinnati, at no point did either team look like it was going to take control of the game. The two teams combined to go 5 for 23 on third down, which will do that to you.
2. They can't all be record games. Hayden Moore came in for the injured Gunner Kiel last week and set a new school record for passing yards in less than three quarters. With the benefit of playing all four quarters this week, Moore threw for ... 279 yards. They can't all be magical nights, kid, but it's a win over a power conference team.
3. Okay, *NOW* the pressure’s on. Miami fans were calling for Al Golden’s head via airplane banner despite the team not losing a game yet. Now that the Canes have an item in the loss column, it’s just going to get louder and louder. Let us press our ears to the ground to hear what’s happening:
This would be the first loss to a non-Power 5 team in the Al Golden era. Last such Miami loss: at USF, 2010. Spelled Randy Shannon's doom.
— Matt Porter (@mattyports) October 2, 2015 See More:
