Cincinnati: 2026 Week 12 recap

Cincinnati sits at No. 59 after a steep 3.7-point rating drop following a 31–24 road loss to Houston in Week 10. The Bearcats' 5–4 record masks a troubling offensive efficiency problem: their red-zone touchdown rate sits at just 22.6%, meaning they're consistently stalling when field position matters most. Third-down conversion stands at 37.1%, further evidence that drives peter out before reaching the end zone. With an expected win total of 6.5 and zero probability of reaching the playoff, Cincinnati's margin for error has evaporated. Next up is a road trip to Iowa State on November 14—a game where GIE sees little daylight for a turnaround unless the offense can finally finish drives in the red zone.