NCAAF: Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 9/7/24

♪ >> Roy: ON A SUN-SPLASHED SATURDAY AFTERNOON, WE WELCOME YOU TO HISTORIC NIPPERT STADIUM. HERE COME THE BEARCATS AND THE RIVER CITY RIVALRY. PITTSBURGH COMES TO TOWN FOR THIS ACC BIG 12 CLASH. BEAUTIFUL CONDITIONS. FALL IS IN THE AIR. WITH SAM ACHO, I'M ROY PHILPOTT, TAYLOR DAVIS JOINS US IN A MINUTE. A PAIR OF UNDEFEATED TEAMS TODAY PLAYING GOOD FOOTBALL TO START 2024. >> Sam: TEAMS WITH HISTORY. LAST YEAR THEY PLAYED, CINCINNATI RAN FOR OVER 224 YARDS. PITT REMEMBERS THAT. THERE'S SOME NEW PLAYERS BUT THERE'S HISTORY THAT STILL REMAINS. >> Roy: ALL KINDS OF HISTORY TO TALK ABOUT. SPEAKING OF TRANSFERS, THE QUARTERBACK POSITION, IT'S A COMMON THEME IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. WE HAVE ELI HOLSTEIN AND BRENDAN SORSBY AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE. >> Sam: HOLSTEIN WAS 30 FOR 40 LAST WEEK. SORSBY HAD TWO PASSING TOUCHDOWNS AND IT RUN THE BALL A BIT. THEY BOTH ARE EFFECTIVE QUARTERBACKS, BUT THEY DO IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY WHEN THEY'RE IN THE POCKET. >> Roy: THE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK IN THE ACC, NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK IN THE BIG 12. SIMILAR BUILDING BETWEEN THESE TWO COMING IN FROM ALABAMA AND INDIANA. >> Sam: SIMILAR BUILDS PHYSICALLY AND ALSO MENTALLY. THESE ARE CONFIDENT KIDS. WE TALKED TO SORSBY YESTERDAY, HE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE LOVES RUNNING THE FOOTBALL AND PUTTING HIS SHOULDERS DOWN. WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO ELI, WE WATCHED HIS TAPE AND IT STANDS OUT. >> Roy: WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT LARGE UPDATE FOR CINCINNATI ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE. >> Taylor: CINCINNATI WELCOMES DONTAY CORLEONE WHO HAS BEEN DEALING WITH BLOOD CLOTS FOUND IN HIS LUNGS BACK IN JUNE BUT HAS BEEN MEDICALLY CLEARED TO RETURN TO PLAY TODAY. HE HAS CONTINUED TO TRAIN WITH HIS TEAMMATES, BUT WAS REMOVED FROM FULL COLLISION. HE JUST TACKLED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS PAST TUESDAY. I'M TOLD THE MEDICAL STAFF HAS A PLAN IN PLACE TO MONITOR HIM THROUGHOUT THE GAME, SPECIFICALLY AGAINST THIS PITT OFFENSE. GUYS, HE'S KNOWN AS THE GODFATHER, THIS IS ONE HE CAN'T REFUSE. >> Roy: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. DONTAY CORLEONE, A DISRUPTOR, AN ALL-AMERICAN TWO YEARS AGO. ALL BIG-12 LAST YEAR. >> Sam: FOR HOW BIG HE IS, HE'S VERY, VERY QUICK. HE'S HARD TO MOVE IN THE RUN GAME, YOU'LL FIND HIM IN THE BACK GAME DISRUPTING QUARTERBACKS. DONTAY CORLEONE IS A LEADER OF THIS DEFENSE VOCALLY, PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AS WELL. >> Roy: PITT WON THE COIN TOSS AND DEFERRED. BACK TO RECEIVE IS LOGAN WILSON. A TOUCHBACK WILL BRING IT OUT TO THE 25. AS WE LOOK AT OUR IMPACT PLAYERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CRACKER BARREL. >> Sam: WE'LL START WITH DESMOND REID. A TRANSFER FROM WESTERN CAROLINA. 5'8" 175, BUT EXTREMELY EXPLOSIVE. GAVIN BARTHOLOMEW ON THE WATCH LIST, AN EFFECTIVE TIGHT END. AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THE GODFATHER, DONTAY CORLEONE, BIG, STRONG, PHYSICAL. THE OTHER TIGHT END IS JOE ROYER FOR CINCINNATI. 6'5" 255. GREAT IN THE BLOCKING GAME, BUT AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE PLAYER WHEN IT COMES TO RECEIVING. >> Roy: THE SIDE ARM DELIVERY IS THERE TO ROYER, THE TIGHT END. SPUN DOWN AT THE 26. BRENDAN SORSBY, ORIGINALLY FROM DENTON, TEXAS, DOWN AT LAKE DALLAS, HIGH SCHOOL. YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS. WEARING NUMBER 2. SUCCESSFUL END OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR IN BLOOMINGTON. THE RECORD DIDN'T SPEAK TO HIS OVERALL PRODUCTION. >> Sam: THE LEADERSHIP DID. THE RECORD MAY HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO IT, THERE WERE A LOT OF ONE-SCORE GAMES, BUT THERE WERE OFFERS IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND HE CHOSE CINCINNATI. >> Roy: SECOND DOWN. HANDOFF OVER THE LEFT SIDE IS KINER. GIVE HIM 11. >> Sam: IF YOU GO BACK AND WATCH THIS GAME LAST YEAR, THIS IS WHAT CINCINNATI DID OUTSIDE ZONE OR EVEN ZONE CUT. YOU'RE RUNNING THE BALL TOWARDS THE OUTSIDE AND YOU'RE ASKING YOUR RUNNING BACK TO FIND A GAP, FIND A HOLE. THAT'S WHAT KINER WAS ABLE TO DO EFFECTIVELY. >> Roy: ONLY SEVEN TOUCHES A WEEK AGO FOR THE LSU TRANSFER AND CINCINNATI NATIVE. ANOTHER TOUCH HERE. HE'S TRYING TO GET LATHERED UP. A GAIN OF THREE. NICK JAMES WITH A TACKLE. >> Sam: ONE THING TO NOTICE WHEN YOU WATCH CINCINNATI ON OFFENSE IS WHICH DIRECTION IS THE RUNNING BACK GOING? THE PLAY WE CALL IT IS OUTSIDE ZONE. YOU'RE RUNNING TOWARDS THE OUTSIDE, BUT HIS JOB IS TO FIND A HOLE AND CUT VERTICALLY QUICKLY. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR WHEN THIS OFFENSE IS ON THE FIELD. >> Roy: OFFICIALLY A GAIN OF TWO. OFF OF PLAY ACTION. PASS IS CAUGHT. ANOTHER FIRST DOWN. BERKHALTER RACING INTO PLUS TERRITORY AND A GAIN OF 14. SECOND SEASON FOR SCOTT SATTERFIELD COMING IN FROM LOUISVILLE. HE'S CHARGED WITH THE REBUILD AFTER A PLAYOFF APPEARANCE IN THE AAC THREE YEARS AGO FOR THE BEARCATS. DISAPPOINTING FIRST CAMPAIGN AT 3-9 LAST YEAR. THEY OVERHAULED THE ROSTER IN THE OFF SEASON. HERE'S EVAN PRYOR, THE OHIO STATE TRANSFER. TO THE EDGE AND BARRELLED DOWN QUICKLY BY McINTYRE. ANOTHER THREE-YARD GAIN. >> Sam: THAT WASN'T THE OUTSIDE ZONE BY A HANDOFF BUT SAME TYPE OF OFFENSIVE LINE MOVEMENT. THE OFFENSIVE LINE IS RUNNING HORIZONTALLY, THE RUNNING BACK SAYS NO MATTER WHERE THE GAP IS I'LL FIND IT AND GET VERTICAL. THAT WAS A GOOD STOP BY PITT. WE KNOW THEY LOVE TO BLITZ, LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN CREASE THEM ON OFFENSE. >> Roy: PANTHERS SHOW SIX. THEY'LL BRING FIVE. TIME FOR SORSBY. HE'LL STEP UP AND THROW IT AWAY. HEADS-UP PLAY TO AVOID THE SACK, BATTLE APPLYING THE QUARTERBACK PRESSURE THAT TIME. >> Sam: THAT'S WHAT PITT DOES. PITT APPLIES PRESSURE. PITT WILL BRING PRESSURE WHETHER FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD DOWN. THEY HAVE EXOTIC BLITZES. WHAT CINCINNATI AND SORSBY NEED ARE ANSWERS TO THOSE BLITZES. >> Roy: BEARCATS 43% ON THIRD DOWN A YEAR AGO. SEVENTH PLAY OF THE DRIVE UPCOMING. EMPTY BACKFIELD FOR SORE SORE. SENSING BACKSIDE PRESSURE. DOWN HE GOES. WAY BACK AT THE 48, SINCERE EDWARDS. THE FIRST-YEAR PLAYER FROM ORLANDO AND A LOSS OF SIX AND A DRIVE STOPPER. >> Sam: THAT WASN'T EVEN AN EXOTIC BLITZ. WHAT HAPPENED WAS YOU SAW INSIDE PRESSURE, IF YOU WILL. INSIDE LINEBACKERS STEPPED UP ON THE INSIDE. INSTEAD OF BLITZING, THEY DROP BACK INTO COVERAGE, THAT LEFT A DEFENSIVE END WIDE OPEN, UNBLOCKED. SINCERE EDWARDS WAS UNBLOCKED ON THE EDGE. WHEN YOU BRING PRESSURE, OFFENSE SAYS HOW DO WE MOVE? WHERE DO WE GO? YOU MAKE IT SIMPLE AND FORCE A SACK. >> Roy: FLETCHER TO PUNT THINGS FOR THE BEARCATS. THE PUNT BOUNCES INTO THE END ZONE. FOR THE TOUCHBACK. 50-YARD PUNT MEANS ELI HOLSTEIN WILL TAKE OVER AT HIS OWN 20-YARD LINE. PART OF THAT ALABAMA QUARTERBACK COMPETITION WITH JALEN MILROE, TY SIMPSON, HE WANTED A FRESH START, HE FOUND ONE IN THE STEEL CITY LAST WEEK. >> Sam: HE LEARNED A LOT FROM HIS TIME IN ALABAMA. HE LEARNED FROM JALEN MILROE, LEARNED WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TAKE AIR OF YOUR BODY, THE UPS, THE DOWNS, HE'S COME IN WITH NOT EXPERIENCE ON THE FIELD BUT THE MENTAL EXPERIENCE OF HOW TO SUCCEED AS A QUARTERBACK. >> Roy: NIP NIPERT COMES TO LIF. THEY FLIP IT TO BARTHOLOMEW. GAVIN BARTHOLOMEW PICKS UP A FIRST DOWN AND A CRAFTY PLAY ON FIRST DOWN. THE CALL COMING IN FROM KADE BELL, THE NEW OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR. >> Sam: GAVIN BARTHOLOMEW IS AN ATHLETIC TIGHT END, HE DIDN'T CUT INSIDE, HE CUT TO THE OUTSIDE. I'LL LOOK AT THAT VERSUS THIS DEFENSE. >> Roy: WIDE OPEN CREASE FOR DES REID. HE RUMBLED INTO CINCINNATI TERRITORY, A GAIN OF 23. >> Sam: WHAT YOU SAW THERE IS GAVIN BARTHOLOMEW IN THE BLOCKING GAME. NOT JUST PASSING, BUT BLOCKING AS WELL. >> Roy: PLAY ACTION, HOLSTEIN TO THE AIR. OUT PATTERN UNAVAILABLE FOR KENNY JOHNSON. LEADING RECEIVER A WEEK AGO. >> Sam: THIS DEFENSE LED BY TYSON VEIDT IS A 3-3-3 DEFENSE. IF YOU'RE NOT GOOD ON THE EDGES, OUTSIDE LINE BACKERS, YOU WILL GIVE UP CREASES ON THE OUTSIDE. I DON'T EXPECT INSIDE RUNS, BUT ON THE OUTSIDE, PITT WILL TRY TO ATTACK. >> Roy: FAKE IT TO REID. HOLSTEIN, THE SLANT, INCOMPLETE. JOHNSON. SAW THAT PASS SAIL BEHIND HIS BACK SHOULDER. JORDAN YOUNG IN COVERAGE. KADE BELL, 31 YEARS OLD. COMES IN FROM THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE AND WESTERN CAROLINA. QUITE A STORY TO TELL. WE'LL GET DEEPER INTO IT. AS WE GET DEEPER INTO THIS GAME. AGGRESSIVE WILL BE A COMMON THEME TODAY FOR PITT'S OFFENSE. HOLSTEIN STEPS UP. ON THE MOVE. PASS IS CAUGHT. THAT'S A FIRST DOWN. MUMPFIELD REELS IT IN. KONATA PICKS IT UP ON THIRD AND LONG. >> Sam: HE FUMBLED LAST WEEK, SO YOU WONDER IS THERE A LACK OF TRUST? NO, THERE'S A HIGH LEVEL OF TRUST IN MUMPFIELD. >> Roy: REID AGAIN, JUMP CUT. SHIFTS TO HIS RIGHT. EVERY TIME REID TOUCHES IT, YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING SPECIAL COULD HAPPEN. >> Sam: HE'S AN EXPLOSIVE RUNNING BACK AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE RETURN GAME. I PLAYED SPECIAL TEAMS A LOT IN THE NFL, COACHES WOULD SAY ABOUT GUYS LIKE HIM, HE HAS ELITE JUICE. THAT MEANS EVERY TIME HE TOUCHES THE BALL, SOMETHING SPECIAL CAN HAPPEN. >> Roy: FAKE IT TO REID. HOLSTEIN WANTS IT ALL. PICKED UP >> >> Roy: NIPPERT STADIUM THE CENTERPIECE OF CAMPUS. THE CINCINNATI BEARCATS, THE LEAD IN, THE BUILD UP, SORSBY AND COMPANY GETTING READY FOR THE RIVER CITY RIVALS. THROUGH THE TUNNEL. YES, INDEED, THEY GIVE THEY'RE ALL. BEAUTIFUL CONDITIONS. FALL-LIKE WEATHER THIS MORNING. WE WOKE UP TO 51 DEGREES. A CRISPNESS THAT YOU DON'T SEE A LOT THIS TIME OF YEAR IN THESE PARTS. COREY KINER ANOTHER GAIN. CINCINNATI ON THE GROUND A YEAR AGO, THE DIFFERENCE IN PITTSBURGH, A GAIN OF 28 MORE FOR NUMBER 21. >> Sam: COREY KINER RAN FOR A THOUSAND YARDS LAST SEASON. RUN TO THE OUTSIDE, FIND THE HOLE, GET VERTICAL. WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL IS YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOMEONE MISS IN THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD. IT'S ONE THING TO GET FIVE YARDS, CAN YOU TURN FIVE TO 50? THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM KINER AND THE CINCINNATI OFFENSE. >> Roy: THREE CARRIES, 41 YARDS AFTER SEVEN TOUCHES FOR 51 LAST WEEK. NUMBERS THERE, BEARCATS WANT TO RUN IT. PRYOR BROUGHT DOWN BY BILES AT THE LINE. >> Sam: ONE WAY TO STOP THIS OFFENSE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG ON THE EDGES. SO, THE DEFENSIVE ENDS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SET THE EDGE AND FORCE THE BALL BACK INSIDE. WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT YET. THAT WILL HAVE TO BE THE DIFFERENCE IF THE CINCINNATI RUN OFFENSE IS GOING TO BE SLOWED DOWN. >> Roy: THAT WAS KINER ON THE CARRY. CINCINNATI NATIVE. THE BEGINNING OF HIS COLLEGE CAREER IN BATON ROUGE. PLAY ACTION. SORSBY OFF THE BACK FOOT. FLOATS IT. TWO RECEIVERS IN THE AREA. ROYER WAS RUNNING. THE PRESSURE FROM KYLE LOUIS. >> Sam: MISCOMMUNICATION. HE HAD ROYER OPEN IF HE WANTED HIM. MISCOMMUNICATION BY THE DEFENSE AND BY THAT PRESSURE AND LOUIS. LOUIS GETTING PASSED ON THE INSIDE. WHEN A QUARTERBACK FEELING THAT PRESSURE, IT'S HARD TO STEP AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON YOUR PASS. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WHY THAT PASS WAS INACCURATE. >> Roy: PAT NARDUZZI, THE HEAD COACH, YEAR TEN IN THE STEEL CITY. KNOWN FOR APPLYING PRESSURE. BRINGS SIX, THREE DEEP, TWO UNDERNEATH. COULDN'T DO IT LAST YEAR. TRYING TO GET BACK TO THOSE WAYS THIS YEAR. AND THE PASS IS CAUGHT! TIPTOEING DOWN THE SIDELINE, THE TOUCHDOWN AND JAMOI MAYES FROM 52 YARDS OUT. >> Sam: IF THERE WERE EVER A GAME PLAN THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO START IF YOU'RE CINCINNATI, THIS IS IT. TURNOVER ON DEFENSE LEADING TO OFFENSE. YOU SAW THE TIME IN THE POCKET AND MAYS GETS PUSHED OUT OF BOUNDS, GETS BACK INBOUNDS. YOU CAN SEE THE DEFENSIVE BACK, HE CAN'T BELIEVE THAT. OH, THE PLAY WILL BE OVER, NO ISSUES. MAYS KEPT ON RUNNING AND A PERFECT PASS BY THE QUARTERBACK. >> Roy: SOMEHOW STAYED INBOUNDS. THIRD CATCH OF THE YEAR FOR THE TRANSFER FROM CHATTANOOGA. THEY'LL DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DIDN'T TAP DANCE ON THAT SIDELINE. WE'LL TAKE ONE MORE LOOK OURSELVES. >> Sam: TOE TAPPING DOWN THE SIDELINE. IT LOOKS AS IF HE STAYS IN ALL THE WAY THROUGH. >> Roy: INDISPUTABLE VIDEO EVIDENCE. NOTHING WE SAW THERE WOULD INDICATE THAT CALL SHOULD BE OVERTURNED. IT WILL NOT BE. HERE'S CARTER BROWN. BOTH TEAMS MOVING THE FOOTBALL EFFICIENTLY TO START, BUT IT'S THE BEARCATS THAT STRIKE FIRST. UC WON THE LAST THREE MATCH-UPS AGAINST PITT. THEY MISSED THE CONNECTION LAST WEEK IN THE WIN AGAINST TOWNSEND, A DIFFERENT STORY . >> Announcer: ESPN COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY AUTO ZONE, GET IN THE ZONE. >> Roy: HISTORIC NIPPERT STADIUM, ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED BACK IN 1915. THIRD OLDEST NCAA FBS STADIUM. THROUGH THE YEARS, THEY WILL CELEBRATE THEIR 100th YEAR OF PLAYING FOOTBALL HERE. ANNIVERSARY COMING UP IN EARLY NOVEMBER, LATER THIS AN. HOME OF THE CINCINNATI BENGALS AS WELL AS AN EXPANSION FRANCHISE BACK IN THE LATE 1960s. UC HAS BEEN PLAYING FOOTBALL HERE FOR SOME TIME, SINCE THE EARLY 1900s. A LOOK AT THE ARTS CENTER. WELL OVER A CENTURY OLD. WE'RE TOLD THE BASKETBALL COURT INSIDE ONCE WAS THE PRACTICE HOME OF THE GREAT OSCAR ROBERTSON. SANDY KOUFAX CAME TO UC ORIGINALLY TO PLAY BASKETBALL, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT. BACK TO LIVE ACTION. ENSUING KICKOFF AND PITT, KENNY JOHNSON WILL BRING IT BACK. HAIR COMES ELI HOLSTEIN. PAT NARDUZZI, WON AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. HE WAS PROPERLY CAFFEINATED IN OUR CONVERSATION YESTERDAY. >> Sam: I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS CAFFEINE OR PERSONALITY. PAT NARDUZZI IS PASSIONATE TO PUT IT LIGHTLY. HE TELLS THE TRUTH. I THINK HIS PLAYERS LOVE THAT THE MOST. HE WILL KEEP IT 100. >> Roy: HE HAS AN OLD-SCHOOL PERSONALITY BUT ADAPTED WELL TO THE N.I.L. TRANSFER PORTAL THAT WE'RE IN. ANOTHER TOUCH FOR DES REID. VAULTING ACROSS THE RIGHT SIDE. STILL ON HIS FEET. AGAIN, THE SMALL IN STATURE NATURE OF THE RUNNING BACK BUT POWERFUL WHEN HE GETS A FULL HEAD OF STEAM. 14 MORE THERE. >> Sam: EXPLOSIVE IS THE WORD THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU WATCH DES REID, PHYSICAL, TOUGH, EXPLOSIVE. THAT'S THE WORD. >> Roy: DANCE ACROSS THE RIGHT SIDE. A PUNISHING FINISH. GAIN OF SIX MORE. JOSH MINKINS WHO HAD THE INTERCEPTION ON PITT'S FIRST DRIVE WITH A TACKLE. KADE BELL TOLD US IT'S SEVEN SECONDS OF HELL IN BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL SNAPS. THAT'S HOW FAST THEY WANT TO GO. HOLSTEIN STEPS UP IN THE POCKET. FIRES A STRIKE. WILLIAMS. 12 MORE. >> Sam: GREAT JOB . HOLSTEIN SAW HE WAS COVERED BY MINKINS, HE WENT TO A SECONDARY TARGET. GREAT BY HOLSTEIN. >> Roy: SOUNDS LIKE A LINEBACKER TALKING THERE. INSIDE GIVE. GAIN OF FOUR. CINCINNATI, THE DEFENSE BACK ON ITS HEELS AGAIN. APPROACHING SIX TO PLAY IN THE FIRST. HOLSTEIN WANTS TO RUN IT. HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF THAT IN THE FIRST TWO GAMES. SPUN DOWN. IT WILL BE THIRD AND SHORT. BARTLETT STOPPED HIM ONE YARD SHY OF FIRST-DOWN YARDAGE. >> Sam: THESE ARE WINS FOR CINCINNATI'S DEFENSE. THIS DEFENSE IS A BEND BUT DON'T BREAK DEFENSE. A THREE-YARD GAIN, A FOUR-YARD GAIN, THEY'LL DO THAT ALL DAY, JUST KEEP THEM OUT OF THE END ZONE. >> Roy: THERE GOES REID. HE'LL GAIN FOUR. YOU PLAYED LINEBACKER IN THE NFL WITH TEXAS BACK IN THE DAY. WHAT MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT TO TACKLE A SMALLER RUNNING BACK LIKE DES REID? >> Sam: IT'S NOT HIS SIZE, IT'S HIS EXPLOSIVENESS. HE HAS WHAT I CALL A DEAD LEG. HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING ONE WAY AND THEN BURSTS THROUGH THE HOLE. YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH DIRECTION HE WILL GO. IT'S NOT THAT HE'S SMALL, IT'S HOW EXPLOSIVE AND QUICK HE IS THAT MAKES HIM HARD TO BRING DOWN. >> Roy: DEXTER DAVIS CHECKS IN. RED-SHIRT JR. FROM PITTSBURGH. ALSO AN LSU TRANSFER. TIME FOR HOLSTEIN. HEAVES ONE DEEP. HAS A MAN. MUMPFIELD. MUMPFIELD HAD HIS HAND UP EARLY, THE PASS SAILED LONG. ARNOLD IN COVERAGE. >> Sam: THAT'S THE FOURTH OVERTHROW PASS WE'VE SEEN BY HOLSTEIN. MUMPFIELD WAS WIDE OPEN. THE DEFENSE IS SUPPOSED TO REROUTE, SLOW DOWN MUMPFIELD. THEY MISSED ON THEIR REROUTE AND HOLSTEIN HAD MUMPFIELD. THAT'S THE FIRST ON THIS SERIES, REALLY THE FOURTH OVERALL THAT THE PASS HAS BEEN SAILED A BIT OVER THE RECEIVER'S HEADS. >> Roy: MOTION. EMPTY BACKFIELD. HOLSTEIN S GOING TO RUN IT AGAIN. OVER RIGHT TACKLING, PUNISHING CROSSING THE 30. GAIN OF JUST THREE. 3-3-5 DEFENSE FOR CINCINNATI UNDER THE MICROSCOPE TODAY UNDER TYSON VEIDT. >> Sam: YOU SEE HOW THE LINEBACKERS FLOW OVER TOP? THE DEFENSIVE LINE, THEY WANT TO CREATE DISRUPTION IN THE BACKFIELD TO MAKE THE LINEBACKERS FREE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A PLAY. THAT'S WHAT YOU SAW. LINEBACKERS BEING PHYSICAL AFTER D-LINE DISRUPTION. >> Roy: CROWD ON ITS FEET. THIRD DOWN. >> Sam: IT LOOKS LIKE MAN-TO-MAN. IT VERY WELL MAY NOT BE. >> Roy: PLAY CLOCK WINDING DOWN. PITT CALLS A >> R>> Roy: BACK AT, YOU'RE WATCHING THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE. THE CHESS MATCH BEGINS WITH A PAIR OF FIRST YEAR COORDINATORS, KADE BELL AND TYSON VEIDT. THIRD DOWN AND LONG. >> Sam: TYSON VEIDT SINCE 2016 WAS AT IOWA STATE. NOW HE'S TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING AT CINCINNATI. >> Roy: AGAINST THE PRO TEMPO APPROACH OF YOUNG KADE. HE'LL FAKE IT TO REID. HERE COMES THE DEEP BALL. MUMPFIELD TRIED TO RETREAT. HE COULDN'T GET THERE. THE COVERAGE WAS AMPLE BY LOGAN WILSON. >> Sam: I UNDERSTAND WHAT HOLSTEIN IS TRYING TO DO. UNDERTHROWING THE BALL USUALLY CAN GET A PASS INTERFERENCE. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO UNDERTHROW THAT. YOU HAD YOUR RECEIVER WIDE OPEN. JUST LAY IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. SO WE'VE SEEN FOUR OVERTHROWS, ONE BALL EXTREMELY UNDERTHROWN. HOLSTEIN NEEDS TO CALM HIMSELF DOWN IN THIS DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. >> Roy: WILLIAMS DEEP DOWN THE FIELD. A 47-YARD EFFORT ON THE WAY. IT'S GOOD. BEN SAULS, AN OHIO NATIVE RETURNING TO HIS HOMESTATE, THE FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR. PITTSBURGH ON THE BOARD TO MAKE IT 7-3. THIS SEASON, ALL STATE WILL CELEBRATE EVERY FIELD GOAL AND EXTRA POINT MADE BY MAKING A DONATION TO THE UNIVERSITY'S GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, ALLSTATE. TEN PLAYS, 48 YARDS. PITT HAS GONE INTO CINCINNATI TWICE, JUST THREE POINTS TO SHOW FOR IT. THE BEARCATS TYSON VEIDT WOULD TELL YOU THAT'S A WIN IN HIS BOOK, I WOULD GUESS. >> Sam: IT IS. TOTAL YARDAGE IS ABOUT THE SAME. THE DIFFERENCE IS WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE RED ZONE? WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SCORING ZONE? ONE, WE SAW AN INTERCEPTION AND HOLD THEM TO A FIELD GOAL. THE OTHER WE SAW A TOUCHDOWN. YARDAGE MATTERS, BUT MOST DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS WILL TELL YOU I CARE ABOUT POINTS MORE THAN YARDS ALLOWED. >> Roy: BEN SAULS BACK ON THE FIELD. LOGAN WILSON BACK DEEP TO RECEIVE. ENTERTAINING START. THEY CALL IT THE RIVER CITY RIVALRY. FIRST TIME THESE TWO TEAMS MET WAS BACK IN 1921. SAULS SAILS THAT ONE EIGHT YARDS DEEP. WE CHECK IN AGAIN WITH TAYLOR DAVIS. >> Taylor: THAT CINCINNATI TOUCHDOWN DEFINITELY PROVIDED JUICE DOWN HERE ON THE SIDELINE. WHEN I TALKED TO SORSBY THIS WEEK, I ASKED HIM WHAT HE TOOK THE MOST FROM HIS EXPERIENCES AT INDIANA. HE SAID I LEARNED YOU'RE BETTER OFF BEING POISED. WITH THE VARIATION OF PITT, THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO MAINTAIN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THIS GAME, THAT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN DOWN HERE FROM HIM EARLY, A LOT OF POISE. >> Roy: THE END OF THAT LAST SEASON IN BLOOMINGTON, NEARLY AN UPSET AGAINST PENN STATE, OVERTIME AGAINST ILLINOIS. THEY PUT UP BIG OFFENSIVE NUMBERS. HE CAME INTO HIS OWN. THE SECOND HE ENTERED THE PORTAL, PICKED UP NEARLY 20 SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS. ENDED UP WITH CINCINNATI. ALSO LOOKING AT MISSISSIPPI STATE AND LOUISVILLE LATE IN THAT PROCESS. >> Sam: THAT POISE THAT TAYLOR TALKED ABOUT, WE FELT IT YESTERDAY WHEN WE SAT WITH HIM. CALM, COOL, COLLECTED, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY CONFIDENT. THAT'S WHAT I FELT WHEN TALKING WITH BRENDAN SORSBY. >> Taylor: IT'S SOMETHING THAT COACH SATTERFIELD REITERATED TO US THAT HE HAS A GREAT QUICK RELEASE, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT HIM, YOU FEEL HE CAN GO MAKE A PLAY. >> Roy: MADE A TON OF PLAYS LAST WEEK. BIG ONE EARLY THIS WEEK. TOO MUCH MUSTARD ON THAT FAST BALL, LOOKING FOR JOE ROYER. GEORGE APPLYING THE PRESSURE. THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE MORE OF FROM SORSBY TODAY. >> Sam: SATTERFIELD WANTS ANSWERS TO THAT PRESSURE. WE'LL GO BACK TO THAT PLAY. THAT WAS A LATE TIGHT END RELEASE, THAT COULD BE AN ANSWER TO THE PRESSURE THAT PAT NARDUZZI LOVES TO BRING. YOU SEE RIGHT THERE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN, YOU THINK ROYER WILL BE BLOCKING. NO, HE'S WIDE OPEN RIGHT THERE. IT'S A LITTLE QUICK, RIGHT THROUGH HIS HANDS, HIGH. THEY'LL GO BACK TO THAT PLAY AS AN ANSWER TO THE SIX-MAN PRESSURE OR EVEN SOMETIMES SEVEN-MAN PRESSURE FROM PITT. >> Roy: BEARCATS ONE OF TWO ON THIRD DOWN. SORSBY ANOTHER DEEP BALL, COMING BACK TO IT, REELING IN THE RECEPTION. XZAVIER HENDERSON. TWO PENALTY MARKERS FLY IN LATE. THAT WAS WORKING AGAINST BATTLE IN PLUS TERRITORY. A GAIN OF 34. >> Referee: PASS INTERFERENCE, DEFENSE, NUMBER 15. THAT PENALTY IS DECLINED. RESULT OF THE PLAY IS THE FIRST DOWN. >> Roy: CLEAR CONTACT SOME 30 YARDS DOWNFIELD. >> Sam: IT WAS NECESSARY CONTACT. BATTLE GOT BEAT OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. ONE ANSWER TO PRESSURE IS CAN YOU WIN ONE-ON-ONE? IF YOU'RE GOING TO BRING ALL THESE PEOPLE TO BLITZ ME, YOUR CORNERS HAVE TO PLAY ONE-ON-ONE. BATTLE NEEDS TO BE BETTER IN ONE-ON-ONE COVERAGE. >> Roy: FAKE IT TO CHANCE WILLIAMS. THERE IT IS AGAIN, ROYER OFF TO THE RACES! IT'S FIRST AND GOAL. THE OHIO STATE TRANSFER, HE'S HELPING 6'" 260 RUMBLES INTO THE RED ZONE FOR 32 YARDS. >> Sam: WE TALKED ABOUT HIM AS A NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW AS AN ATHLETE, AS A BLOCKER, AS A LEADER, ROYER, YOU COULD MAKE A WHOLE GAME PLAN AROUND JOE ROYER AS AN OFFENSE. THAT'S HOW MUCH HE CAN DO. >> Roy: TIGHT ENDS COACH JOSH STEP TELLING US NUMBER 11 IN RED TODAY, AN ABSOLUTE BEAST. SORSBY STRAIGHT AHEAD. STACKED UP AND DRIVEN DOWN. DONOVAN McMILLON. ONE YARD GAIN ON FIRST AND GOAL. >> Sam: THAT'S CALLED FILM REVIEW. PITT WENT AND WATCHED THE FILM AND SAID LAST WEEK, WE SAW THEM RUN TWO QUARTERBACK SNEAKS IN THE RED ZONE. HE SCORED TOUCHDOWNS ON BOTH OF THEM. ANY TIME THEY'RE INSIDE THE TEN-YARD LINE, PREPARE FOR A QUARTERBACK SNEAK. DON'T RUSH UP THE FIELD, PLAY THE RUN. GREAT JOB BY PAT NARDUZZI AND THAT DEFENSE. >> Roy: NUMBERS VERSUS TOWNSEND, TWO THROUGH THE AIR, TWO ON THE GROUND. INDIANA TRANSFER. FAKE IT TO KINER. SORSBY. WIDE OPEN. TWO TARGETS. HE'LL CHOOSE TONY JOHNSON. SECOND CATCH OF THE SEASON. PICK YOUR POISON TIME AND SORSBY GETTING IT DONE. HE HAD FRANCIS SHERMAN ALSO IN THERE. >> Sam: HE COULD HAVE MADE IT EASY ON HIMSELF, HE CHOSE THE HARDER WAY. HE HAD TWO GUYS WIDE OPEN. THE LINEBACKERS ARE ALL FLOWING THE WRONG DIRECTION. WHAT A PERFECTLY PLACED BALL BY SORSBY. YES, YOU HAD YOUR OPTION. PICK WHICH ONE YOU WANT TO PICK. THAT BALL COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THROWN BETTER BY SORSBY. >> Roy: SHERMAN HAS TO BE THINKING WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET A TOUCHDOWN? HE STARTED HIS CAREER AT LOUISVILLE, THEN ARKANSAS. 44 MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT IN THE FILM ROOM TOMORROW. WE'LL SEE. IT'S A TOUCHDOWN, NONETHELESS. >> Sam: TO YOUR POINT, ROY, WHAT HAPPENS -- THE REASON WHY THAT PLAY WORKS, YOU RAN OUTSIDE ZONE, OUTSIDE ZONE. LINEBACKERS THINK IT WILL BE OUTSIDE ZONE. GET THE FAKE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BALL IS COMING BACK THE OTHER WAY. >> Roy: TWO FIRST QUARTER TOUCHDOWNS. THE EXTRA POINT WOBBLES THROUGH FROM CARTER BROWN. COMING UP NEXT ON ABC, SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS SQUARE OFF AGAINST KENTUCKY IN THE S.E.C. CONFERENCE OPENER IN LEXINGTON AT 3:30 EASTERN. PRIME TIME TONIGHT, ACC VERSUS S.E.C., VOLS AND WOLFPACK IN A BIG EARLY SEASON TEST FOR BOTH SQUADS. BOTH GAMES ON ESPN+ AS WELL. VOLS AND N.C. STATE TONIGHT. ANY CHANCE FOR THE WOLFPACK? >> Sam: MAN, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS. TENNESSEE HAS A QUARTERBACK AND THAT DUDE IS SPECIAL. SO, GO FOR DEFENSE, BUT NICO HAS JUICE. >> Roy: GRACEN McCALL SAYS HELLO AS WELL. HE'S NOW WITH N.C. STATE. WOLFPACK DIDN'T LOOK GREAT IN THE SEASON OPENER, A LATE FOURTH-CARTER RALLY TO TOP WESTERN CAROLINA. PROBABLY A DIFFERENT SCENE TONIGHT IN CHARLOTTE. KENNY JOHNSON FROM THE 4. JOHNSON ACROSS THE 25. A PENALTY MARKER FLIES IN AFTER A RETURN OF 22. >>Referee: DURING THE RETURN, HOLDING, RECEIVING TEAM, NUMBER 12. TEN-YARD PENALTY. FIRST DOWN. >> Roy: GOOD AFTERNOON TO KEVIN CONNORS FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHAT DO YOU HAVE? >> GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU. TOP TEN MATCH-UP, THIS IS HUGHES FINDING HELM. >> TEXAS DECODED THIS MICHIGAN DEFENSE SO FAR. THEY HAVE GONE LEFT/RIGHT, LEFT/RIGHT AND VERTICAL STRIKE. >> 7-0. >> Roy: KEVIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AN EARLY START FOR THE HORNS ON THE ROAD. BACK TO LIVE ACTION HERE IN CINCINNATI. SCREEN PASS. DES REID. >> Sam: WHY WOULD YOU DO A SCREEN PASS RIGHT NOW? YOU'VE SEEN FOUR OVERTHROWS, ONE UNDERTHROW. YOU'RE TELLING YOUR QUARTERBACK, SETTLE DOWN, GET AN EASY THROW. SEE A COMPLETION AND THEN GET MOMENTUM. >> Roy: HOLSTEIN, SURVEYS. HIS TIGHT END, BARTHOLOMEW. HEAVY PRESSURE. MARQUESA PARKER. PANTHERS NEED SIX. HOLSTEIN, THE PUMP FAKE. NEARLY INTERCEPTED AGAIN. DERRICK CANTEEN READ THE ROUTE. THREE AND OUT FOR THE PANTHERS. >> Sam: HOLSTEIN PUMP FAKED THAT BALL, BUT THE ISSUE WAS YOU DIDN'T NEED TO. YOU HAD MUMPFIELD OPEN TWO SECONDS EARLIER, HE DIDN'T TRUST HIS EYES. MUMPFIELD IS OPEN COMING ACROSS THE MIDDLE. HE HESITATES. HESITATION DOESN'T LEAD TO POSITIVE THINGS IN FOOTBALL. DROPPED INTERCEPTION, BUT HOLSTEIN HAS TO TRUST HIS EYES. >> Roy: CANTEEN COMING OVER FROM VIRGINIA COACHING STAFF HERE TALKED ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP. HIS DAD WAS IN THE ARMY FOR 25 YEARS. HE'S FIT IN EXTREMELY WELL IN THE BEARCATS PROGRAM. THERE IS THE TACO BELL LIVE MAS STUDENT SECTION. DOWNLOAD TE TACO BELL APP TO LEARN MORE. THEY GOT HERE EARLY AND THEY HAVE PLENTY TO CHEER ABOUT IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THEY HAVE REMAINED LOUD FOR THIS PROUD PROGRAM NOW PLAYING IN THE BIG 12. >> Sam: LAST YEAR WE SAW CINCINNATI STRUGGLE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR IN THE BIG 12. SOME OF THE COACHES SAID WE NEED TO BRING IN PLAYERS AND A CULTURE WHERE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED. WE'RE SEEING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS. >> Roy: SORSBY SPOTTED FIVE DIFFERENT RECEIVERS EARLY. EVAN PRYOR PICKS UP FOUR. TIME WINDING DOWN IN OUR FIRST QUARTER. HOW ABOUT THIS START BY THE HOME TEAM? A BIT UNEVEN AT TIMES LAST WEEK IN THE VIC TORY A>> T>> Taylor: NIPPERT STADIUM. CINCINNATI WITH THE 14-3 LEAD. PITT COACH PAT NARDUZZI JOINS ME NOW. YOU TOLD ME THIS WEEK WOULD BE A MUCH DIFFERENT TEST THAN WEEK ONE. WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY? >> WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME PLAYS. WE SHOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE HAVE TO GET TOUCHDOWNS INSTEAD OF FIELD GOALS. WE HAVE CHANCES TO WIN ONE-ON-ONES. WE HAVE TO WIN THE ONE-ON-ONE BATTLE. >> Taylor: THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. >> Roy: THANK YOU. START OF THE SECOND QUARTER. 14-3 IS OUR SCORE. PRYOR AROUND THE RIGHT END. GAIN OF ONE, MAYBE TWO. BILES BROUGHT HIM DOWN. ELI HOLSTEIN HAS TO BE A MORE ACCURATE PASSER AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF. >> Sam: 4 FOR 11. THOSE SEVEN MISSES, FIVE OF THEM ARE UNDERTHROWN OR OVERTHROWN SEVERELY. HE HAS TO CALM HIMSELF DOWN, KADE BELL HAS TO GIVE HIM QUICK PASSES TO GIVE HIM CONFIDENCE. >> Roy: THIRD AND FOUR. KEEP AN EYE ON 11 IN MOTION. ALREADY PUT UP SOME BIG NUMBERS TODAY. POST CORNER. THERE IT IS. XZAVIER HENDERSON. THIRD DOWN CONVERSION IN FRONT OF DONOVAN McMILLON. 15 YARDS ON THIRD AND FOUR. >> Sam: THE ISSUE WITH THIS DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE IS THIS. THEY'RE USED TO BRINGING PRESSURE, BUT THEY'VE BEEN GETTING BEAT ON PRESSURE. THEY SAID, OKAY, LET'S DROP BACK INTO COVERAGE. WHEN YOUR M.O. IS PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE YOU WON'T BE AS IN TUNE. THAT WAS A ZONE COVERAGE. THE UNDERNEATH DEFENDERS DIDN'T GET DEEP INFORMATION. >> Roy: FAKE IT TO COREY KINER. SORSBY SAILS IT OUT OF BOUNDS. ROYER IN THE AREA. JOE ROYER, HE'S ONE OF THE TOP TARGETS FOR BRENDAN SORSBY. >> Sam: THIS IS THE ANSWER. YOU SAW ROYER BLOCK AND THEN MISSED IT. THE ANSWER TO PRESSURE IS PATIENCE WITH ROYER. THIS TIME THE HESITATION BY ROYER. HE THINKS HE'S GOING TO BLOCK, YES, BUT HE HESITATES AND IS WIDE OPEN ACROSS THE MIDDLE. EVERYONE IS GOING FULL SPEED, YOU MIGHT FORGET A PLAYER WHO GOES OFF BLOCKING AND THEN GOES OUT TO A ROUTE. >> Roy: SCOTT SATTERFIELD TOLD US, BRAD GLENN, THE O.C., ROYER IS LIKE A JOKER. IN ON ALL HANDS WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE. TWO-YARD GAIN ON SECOND AND TEN. BACK TO THIRD DOWN. TWITCHY ATHLETE, TOO, THE 6'5" 260 MAN. CINCINNATI IS KNOWN FOR PRODUCING GOOD TIGHT ENDS OVER THE YEARS. TRAVIS KELCE, A HANDFUL OF OTHERS. BEARCATS 3 OF 4 ON THIRD DOWNS SO FAR. >> Sam: THIRD AND LONG IS NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IF YOU'RE CINCINNATI BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY EXOTIC BLITZES. WE'VE SEEN SO FAR THEIR ANSWERS. I WONDER IF IT WILL BE A RUNNING BACK ON THIS ONE. >> Roy: BRINGS FIVE. THEY'LL SET UP THE SCREEN. KINER. HAD TO GET DOWN TO THE 31. THAT IS ENOUGH TO MOVE THE STICKS. A GAIN OF EIGHT. >> Sam: THERE ARE A FEW ANSWERS TO PRESSURE. ONE OF THEM IS RUNNING BACK SCREEN. THAT'S WHAT WE SAW ON THAT LAST PLAY. YOU WANT TO BRING THEM ALL? Y'ALL COME AND TRY TO SACK ME? NOPE. I'LL THROW OVER YOUR HEAD. >> Roy: ON FIRST DOWN. BEARCATS UTILIZING TEMPO. THEY'LL VARY THEIR PASS TODAY. TALKING TO BRENDAN SORSBY YESTERDAY, WE MENTIONED AND ASKED THE QUESTION, FACING PRESSURE, WHAT'S NUMBER ONE ON YOUR LIST OF PRIORITIES? HE SAID IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PRESNAP READ. I WANT TO THROW THEM OFF WITH THE CLAP, BUT I WANT TO SHOW THEM WHAT'S COMING BASED ON WHAT THEY SEE. THE. >> Sam: HIS DEFENSE WILL LINE UP IN SIMILAR LOCATIONS BUT BRING DIFFERENT BLITZES. WE'VE SEEN SCREENS OR TIGHT END ROUTES. >> Roy: FAKE IT TO WILLIAMS. THE DANGEROUS PASS, A 50/50 BALL. THE EARLY INDICATION, AN INTERCEPTION BY RYLAND GANDY. THE TOE TAP RIGHT BESIDE THAT FRONT PYLON. YOU ONLY NEED ONE INBOUNDS WITH POSSESSION IN COLLEGE. >> Sam: I GET THE TRUST. YOU TRUST YOUR RECEIVERS, BUT DON'T TRUST THEM TOO MUCH WHEN R CINCINNATI. GANDY DID HAVE POSSESSION BUT THE LEFT FOOT CAME DOWN OUT OF BOUNDS FIRST AS HE ESTABLISHED CONTROL. SO, AN INCOMPLETE PASS AFTER INSTANT REPLAY REVIEW. >> Sam: THE LEFT FOOT IS DOWN. OUT OF BOUNDS. I GO BACK TO THE TRUST. WHAT WILL QUARTERBACK BRENDAN SORSBY DO? WILL HE CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE THE DBs THOUGH THERE WAS AN INTERCEPTION OR BE MORE SAFE ON THE NEXT SERIES AS THE GAME GOES ON? >> Roy: GANDY HAS WAITED FOR HIS TURN REALLY FOR ALMOST THREE SEASONS BEHIND SOME VETERAN CORNERBACKS. THAT PITTSBURGH SECONDARY. A DANGEROUS THROW BY SORSBY. SOMEHOW MAINTAINED POSSESSION. THIRD DOWN AND NINE. >> Sam: WE HEARD FROM TAYLOR AND COACH NARDUZZI THAT COACH NARDUZZI CHALLENGED THE CORNERS. HE SAID WE HAVE TO GET BETTER CORNER PLAY. THAT'S BETTER CORNER PLAY. THOUGH THE FOOT WAS OUT OF BOUNDS, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED BY GANDY. THEY HAVE TO KEEP IT GOING FOR THE REST OF THIS GAME. >> Roy: TYRIN SMITH GOES IN MOTION. HE'LL GET IT ON THE SWING. SMITH WITH A CREASE AND A FIRST DOWN. SCOTT SATTERFIELD CALLING BALL PLAYS AGAIN FOR THE BEARCATS THIS YEAR, WELL DESIGNED FOR A PICK UP OF 12. >> Sam: WE SAW THAT EARLIER SCREEN TO THE RUNNING BACK. THIS IS ANOTHER VERSION OF A SCREEN. A TUNNEL SCREEN. A SCREEN TO THE OUTSIDE MOTION. BALL'S OUT NOW. BALL IS OUT EXTREMELY QUICK. YOU KNOW THERE WILL BE PRESSURE ON THIRD AND LONG. ANSWERS ARE SCREENS AND DELAYS BY EITHER TIGHT ENDS OR RUNNING BACKS AND RECEIVERS. >> Roy: TENTH PLAY OF THE DRIVE COMING UP. BEARCATS ON THE MOVE AGAIN. ALREADY LEADING 14-3. FAKE A SWEEP. SORSBY KEEPS IT. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF QUARTERBACK RUN GAME TODAY FOR BOTH SIDES. LATE PENALTY FLAGS FLY IN. EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE GUYS KEEPS IT, THERE'S A PUNISHING HIT ON THE OTHER END. DEFENSE ORIGINALLY INDICATING THIS INFRACTION WOULD GO AGAINST CINCINNATI. >> Referee: ADAM SAVOIE. PERSONAL FOUL, ILLEGAL BLIND SIDE BLOCK. 15-YARD PENALTY. REPLAY FIRST DOWN. >> Roy: A MASSIVE PENALTY AGAINST COREY KINER. >> Sam: BIG-TIME. NOW YOU WILL GO TO FIRST AND 25, WHICH IS NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE, VERSUS A DEFENSE THAT LOVES TO PRESSURE. AS AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, SATTERFIELD SAYS WHAT DO I DO? I HAVE TO PLAY FOR FIRST AND TEN, MAYBE FIRST AND 15. FIRST AND 25. YOU SEE KINER RIGHT THERE COMING IN WITH THE LATE HIT, UNNECESSARY. WHAT'S WHERE THE PENALTY COMES FROM. >> Roy: NEW BLIND SIDE BLOCK RULE THAT WAS PUT INTO PLACE LAST YEAR NO LONGER CAN JUST ORCHESTRATE IT OUT OF NOWHERE. CHANCE WILLIAMS ON THE FIELD. POWER FORMATION. BROUGHT DOWN AT THE LINE. HE'S GOING TO LOSE TWO. RASHEEM BILES. SOPHOMORE FROM COLUMBUS, BACK IN THE GREAT STATE OF OHIO. STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN BASKETBALL. COACHES, YOU TALK TO THEM THESE DAYS, THEY LOVE THE ATHLETES THAT ENDED UP PLAYING MULTIPLE SPORTS. IT JUST SEEMS TO TRANSLATE WELL. XZAVIER HENDERSON USHERED OUT. SEVEN-YARD GAIN IN FRONT OF BATTLE. >> Sam: THAT PLAY BY BILES WAS HUGE. THAT STRETCH PLAY OR THAT OUTSIDE ZONE PLAY THAT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE NOW IS BEING STOPPED BECAUSE OF THE BACKSIDE EDGE DEFENDERS ARE CHASING FULL SPEED DOWN THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. WE SAW TWO STOPS LIKE THAT THAT PUT YOU IN NEGATIVE YARDAGE BY RASHEEM BILES. THAT'S THE SECOND TIME HE'S MADE A TACKLE FOR LOSS LIKE THAT. >> Roy: THIRD AND LONG. 13th PLAY COMING UP. BEARCATS ARE IN FIELD GOAL RANGE. FROM THE 25. SORSBY STEPS UP. THE PUMP FAKE, PASS DELIVERED. AARON TURNER. THE PENALTY FLAG DOWN AT THE 21. GAIN OF 19 IF THE PLAY STANDS. LET'S SEE. >> Referee: HOLDING, OFFENSE, NUMBER 54. TEN YARD PENALTY. THIRD DOWN. >> Roy: TINSLEY NEGATES ANOTHER BIG PLAY FOR THE BEARCATS OFFENSE. AN ENORMOUS SEQUENCE THERE. COMING CLOSE TO FIRST AND GOAL, INSTEAD YOU'RE ALL THE WAY BACK AT THE 35. >> Sam: NOW YOU'RE THINKING FIELD GOAL. YOU'RE THINKING LET'S GET BACK INTO FIELD GOAL RANGE, GET FIVE YARDS, SEVEN YARDS, GET THIS GAME TO A TWO TOUCHDOWN GAME. YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO GET THE WHOLE THING, NOT EVEN A HALF A QUARTER OF IT BACK. >> Roy: CINCINNATI OFFENSIVE LINE BROUGHT BACK EVERYBODY FROM LAST YEAR'S TEAM. TURNER, NOMINAL GAIN OF THREE. A LONG FIELD GOAL TRY COMING FOR CARTER BROWN. TALKED TO SCOTT SATTERFIELD ABOUT THE DISTANCE AND WHERE HE FEELS COMFORTABLE. HE INDICATED TO US YESTERDAY, 33 AND IN, BUT HE'S GOT THE LEG STRENGTH O GO BACK AS FAR AS A 55-YARD ATTEMPT. OFFICIALLY FROM 49 YARDS HERE. 1 FOR 2 LAST WEEK. ON THE WAY. BROWN BANGS IT THROUGH. HE SPLIT THE PIPES JUST OVER THE CR CROSSBAR. THE BEARCATS EXTEND THEIR LEAD TO 14. >> Sam: THE DEFENSIVE STOP, THE CLIMB THEIR WAY OUT OF IT THE ENTIRE GAME. ULTIMATELY ENDED UP WITH A LOSS. RANDY BATES SAID WE HAVE PLAYMAKERS, BUT THEY'RE YOUNG. IT WILL HELP OUR DEFENSE IF WE CAN CREATE A LEAD. EYES ON THIS PITT OFFENSE TO GET INTO RHYTHM TO CLOSE OUT THE FIRST HALF. >> Roy: MY QUESTION WOULD BE ELI HOLSTEIN. HIS NUMBERS NOT WHAT WE SAW A WEEK AGO. OBVIOUSLY AGAINST WEAKER COMPETITION IN KENT STATE. HE HAD SOME OPPORTUNITIES IN CINCINNATI TERRITORY. HE HAS NOT COME UP WITH THE CLUTCH THROW JUST YET. NATHAN HAWKS SENDS IT DEEP. KENNY JOHNSON FROM THE 7. PENALTY MARKER COMES IN. JOHNSON REMAINS ON HIS FEET. TWISTING DOWN AT THE 30. RETURN OF 24 L, LIELY COMING BAK IN SOME CAPACITY. HOLSTEIN, 44 YARDS, THE INTERCEPTION IN THE END ZONE. >> Roy: TWO FOULS ON THE PLAY. BOTH BY THE RECEIVING TEAM DURING THE RETURN. HOLDING, NUMBER 20. PENALTY IS DECLINED. HOLDING, NUMBER 8, PENALTY IS HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE GOAL. FIRST DOWN. LET'S SEND YOU BACK TO THE STUDIO. KEVIN CONNORS WHAT DO YOU HAVE? >> ARKANSAS WAS LEADING OKLAHOMA STATE 14-0 AND DRIVING. THIS IS KALE SMITH, A GAME-CHANGING PLAY. >> THIS IS MASSIVE. THEY DROVE IT DOWN TO THE 29-YARD LINE. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT GO UP 21-0. INSTEAD, 14-7. >> IT IS A 14-7 ARKANSAS LEAD OVER ON ESPN. >> Sam: HE RUNS LIKE A GAZELLE. >> Roy: A NEW PLAYMAKER UNDER CENTER. THE TRANSFER QUARTERBACK SYNDROME. PENALTY MARKER COMES IN. BROUGHT DOWN TO THE 29. >> Referee: HOLDING, OFFENSE, NUMBER 86. TEN-YARD PENALTY. FIRST DOWN. >> Roy: IT'S BARTHOLOMEW. >> Sam: DISCIPLINE HURTS. THIS IS THE SECOND PENALTY WE'VE SEEN ON A RETURN. THEN WE SAW THIS HOLDING. YOU TALK ABOUT THE HIDDEN YARDAGE IN FOOTBALL. THIS IS WHAT KEEPS OFFENSES AND TEAMS FROM WINNING GAMES, LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND FUNDAMENTALS. >> Roy: SHOULD HAVE BEEN SECOND AND SHORT. INSTEAD IT'S FIRST. HOLSTEIN IN THE FLATS. REID SHOVED OUT BY YOUNG FOR A GAIN OF TWO. >> Sam: WHAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR AN OFFENSE WHEN YOU'RE SECOND AND LONG AGAINST THIS DEFENSE IS THAT THEY'LL JUST DROP -- WE SAW THAT THEY DROP EIGHT GUYS IN COVERAGE. THEY'LL LET YOU HAVE ANYTHING UNDERNEATH AND WE'LL FORCE YOU TO TRY TO BEAT US OVER THE TOP, WHICH IS HARD TO DO. >> Roy: THAT PASS NEARLY PICKED OFF BY WILSON. TOOK FOREVER FOR HOLSTEIN TO DELIVER THAT FOOTBALL. TRYING TO SPOT MUMPFIELD. >> Sam: SO MANY GUYS IN COVERAGE. AGAIN, THEY'RE JUST READING THE QUARTERBACK. WHEREVER THE QUARTERBACK TELLS YOU TO GO, YOU GO. ELI HOLSTEIN, THE RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN, NOT ACCLIMATED TO LOOKING OFF DEFENSIVE BACKS JUST YET. SO, WHAT THIS DEFENSE SAYS IS LET'S WATCH HIS EYES, SHUFFLE OUR FEET, AND GO WHEN THE BALL GOES. >> Roy: NIPPERT ON ITS FEET. THIRD AND 15. PRESSURE. HOLSTEIN. SHOVELS IT AHEAD. INCOMPLETE. THAT PLAY YOU FELT NEVER HAD A CHANCE. CORLEONE ABLE TO BUST THROUGH THE POCKET. ELI HOLSTEIN OUT TO HIS LEFT. >> Sam: YES, THEY'LL DROP EIGHT, BUT THE THREE GUYS THEY RUSH, THEY OFTEN GET PRESSURE IN THE BACKFIELD. CORLEONE GETS HIS HANDS OFF AND GETS PRESSURE IN THE BACKFIELD. WHETHER IT'S THE THREE-MAN RUSH OR FOUR, IT GIVES MORE TIME FOR DEFENSIVE BACKS AND LINEBACKERS. >> Roy: SECOND PUNT FOR CALEB JUNKO. FORMER WALK-ON. SMITH WATCHES IT >> >> Roy: TUNE IN TO CALL VERSUS AUBURN. TAP FOR THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIVE SPORTS. HERE AT NIPPERT STADIUM, 17-3. THE BEARCATS IN FRONT OF THE PITTSBURGH PANTHERS. ROY PHILPOTT, SAM ACHO, TAYLOR DAVIS. PASS IN THE FLATS IN PITT TERRITORY. TONY JOHNSON PICKING UP NINE. TACKLED BY LYNUM. BEARCATS SEEM TO BE PERHAPS ONE STEP QUICKER, ONE STEP AHEAD OF WHAT PITT WANTS TO DO. REALLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL SO FAR. >> Sam: THEY'RE MAKING QUICKER DECISIONS ON OFFENSE. DEFENSIVELY, GIVING UP LESS EXPLOSIVE PLAYS. THAT'S BEEN THE DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME SO FAR. >> Roy: SEE IF THE BEARCATS WANT TO TAKE A SHOT. KINER, WITH THE SPIN MOVE, PICKS UP FIRST DOWN YARDAGE ON McINTYRE, THE TACKLE. THE BALANCE FOR THAT BEARCATS OFFENSE. YOU KNOW SCOTT SATTERFIELD WANTS TO RUN IT. IF HE GETS THE GROUND GAME GOING, MORE TIMES THAN NOT THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER AS A PLAY CALLER, PASSING YARDS WILL FOLLOW. OUT OF BOUNDS. SORSBY UNDER DURESS LATE. HENDERSON WAS THERE. >> Sam: THE REASON WHY THE RUN GAME LEADS TO THE PASS GAME, IT PUTS DEFENSES UNDER DURESS. WHEN YOU CAN'T STOP THE RUN AS A DEFENSE, YOU'RE THINKING EITHER AS A COORDINATOR WE HAVE TO BRING MORE PRESSURE, AS A PLAYER I HAVE TO FOCUS MORE ON THE RUN. IT BRINGS YOU TIME AS AN OFFENSE TO SAY THEY'RE FOCUSSING ON THE RUN, LET ME RUN A PLAY ACTION, THROW IT OVER THEIR HEADS. IT FRUSTRATES THE DEFENSE WHEN YOU CAN'T STOP THE RUN. THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU HAVE TO DO. >> Roy: SORSBY AGAIN BACK IN THE AIR. BERKHALTER. GAIN OF 11. ANOTHER FIRST DOWN. BERKHALTER THE TRANSFER. CINCINNATI NATIVE COMING HOME. EIGHT DIFFERENT RECEIVERS TOUCHED THE FOOTBALL TODAY. SCOTT SATTERFIELD, SORSBY SPREADING THE WEALTH AROUND SO FAR. >> Sam: AND THEY'RE DOING IT QUICKLY. WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF QUICK GAME. BALL COMES OUT QUICK BEFORE THE PRESSURE GETS THERE, AND A FEW DEEP BALLS WHEN THEY HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK. >> Roy: PISTOL LOOK, KINER. TRYING TO CUT IT BACK. McINTYRE CUT HIM DOWN AFTER A GAIN OF FIVE. >> Sam: KINER, THE SENIOR TRANSFER FROM LSU. HE WAS NAMED MR. FOOTBALL FOR OHIO IN 2020. HE'S EXTREMELY TALENTED. NOW HE'S GETTING AN EVEN BETTER OPPORTUNITY NOW THAT HE'S HERE AT CINCINNATI. >> Roy: SCOTT SATTERFIELD SAID HE IS OUR SECURITY BLANKET. I DON'T THINK HE WAS HAPPY LAST WEEK. HE WAS HAPPY FOR EVAN PRYOR WHO WENT OVER 100 YARDS. COREY KINER, A SENIOR, SEVEN TOUCHES IN A BLOWOUT WIN. KIND OF WITH THE RUNNING BACK THERE. HE'S GOTTEN IT GOING SO FAR TODAY. EIGHT CARRIES IN THE FIRST HALF. ROYER TURNS OUT TO BE A LEAD BLOCKER. SORSBY, DECENT SPEED TO THE EDGE. A LITTLE PHYSICALITY AT THE END. >> Sam: A LOT OF CONFIDENCE. SORSBY COULD HAVE THROWN IT TO ROYER. HE SAID, NO, YOU GO BLOCK FOR ME, JOE. JOE MADE THE BLOCK. YOU SEE HE GOT NEARLY A FIRST DOWN. TO ME, IT TELLS ME THAT HE'S CONFIDENT AND ALSO THAT HIS TEAMMATES BELIEVE IN HIM. HE SAID I'LL BLOCK FOR YOU. YOU CAN MAKE ME A WINNER, TOO. >> Roy: IT'S THIRD AND SHORT, SORSBY NEVER HIT THE TURF THAT TIME. EVEN OUT OF BOUNDS HE MADE SURE TO STAY UPRIGHT. PUTTING UP NEARLY 400 PASSING YARDS LAST WEEK. MOST SINCE WE'VE SEEN FROM THE BEARCATS SIGNAL CALLER SINCE CONNER KEIL. THE SEQUEL IN WEEK TWO IS NOT SHABBY. MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL KICKS OFF WITH AARON RODGERS AND THE JETS AGAINST THE 49ers. 8:00 EASTERN, 5:00 PACIFIC ON ESPN, ABC, ESPN DEPORTES, ESPN+, ESPN2. SAUCE GARDNER ON DISPLAY WITH THE JETS, TOP FIVE DRAFT PICK TWO YEARS AGO. PLAYED ABSOLUTE BLANKET COVERAGE HERE IN THE QUEEN CITY. DABBING IT UP WITH ROGER GOODELL ON THAT NIGHT. WHAT A SCENE. >> Sam: ALREADY A YOUNG PLAYER BUT ONE OF THE BEST CORNERS IN THE ENTIRE NFL. >> Roy: YOU DIDN'T THROW IT TO HIS SIDE OF THE FIELD OR BAD THINGS WOULD HAPPEN FOR THE OFFENSE. GREAT CROWD FOR THIS EARLY START AT NIPPERT STADIUM. 3:18 REMAINING. PANTHERS NEED TO FIND A WAY TO GET A STOP ON THIS DRIVE. OTHERWISE IT WILL BE A CLEAR PRESENT UPHILL BATTLE IN THE SECOND HALF AWAITS. BACK TO IT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE THERE. THAT IS ABOUT IT. FOURTH AND SHORT. >> Sam: I LOVE THE FACT THEY'RE GOING FOR THIS. YOU COULD SAY MAKE IT A 17-POINT GAME, YOU KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE RUN GAME. YOU'RE SAYING LET'S TRY TO END IT HERE. END IT TRYING TO LOSE ALL THE CONFIDENCE FOR THE DEFENSE. >> Roy: EIGHTH PLAY ON THE DRIVE. PANTHERS NEED A STOP. THEY WON'T GET IT. COREY KINER, THE SECOND EFFORT GOT THERE. MATLACK I THOUGHT HAD A PATH TO STOP HIM IN THE BACK. >> Sam: THAT'S CORRECT. MATLACK MET THE RUNNING BACK IN IT THE BACKFIELD. KINER AND MATLACK MEET IN THE BACKFIELD AND KINER WINS THE BATTLE. THAT'S A TACKLE FOR LOSS. THAT'S A FOURTH DOWN STOP. THAT'S A HUGE TURN OF EVENTS. INSTEAD, KINER IN THE WEIGHT ROOM, THEY TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH STRONGER THESE GUYS HAVE GOTTEN ON THIS TEAM. HE WINS IN A FOURTH AND CRITICAL SITUATION. >> Roy: COREY KINER BACK IN >>> COMING UP ON THE VOYA HALFTIME REPORT, THE BIG ONE IN THE BIG HOUSE. HOW TEXAS HAS BEEN DOMINANT AGAINST MICHIGAN. AND A STUNNER IN HAPPY VALLEY. WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PENN STATE. TREVOR'S TRIO, TREVOR WILL BE HERE, THE THREE GAMES HE'S KEEPING AN EYE ON TONIGHT, INCLUDING TENNESSEE AND N.C. STATE. THAT'S WHEN YOU JOIN US FOR THE VOYA HALFTIME REPORT. >> Roy: WE CANNOT WAIT. BACK HERE IN CINCINNATI. BEARCATS ON THE MOVE. TIME WINDING DOWN. UNDER TWO TO GO. SORSBY KEPT IT. BALL WILL BE TIPPED UPON RELEASE BY NATE MATLACK. >> Sam: THAT WAS A GREAT PLAY BY MATLACK GETTING HIS HANDS UP AND TIPPING THAT BALL. THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL TIME AND JUNCTURE IN THIS GAME. IF CINCINNATI SCORES AGAIN, IMAGINE HOW DEMORALIZING IT WILL FEEL, NOT ONLY AFTER THE STRUGGLESOF LAST SEASON, BUT COMING INTO A DIFFERENT OPPONENT, AN AWAY GAME, QUARTERBACK IS NOT PLAYING GREAT. IF THEY GET A STOP, IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND THEY GET THE BALL BACK. >> Roy: COREY KINER CHURNING THE LEGS. BOLTING AHEAD AND A GAIN OF TEN. KINER WILL NOT GO DOWN. RELENTLESS. >> Sam: BRENDAN GEORGE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO STOP HIM. ANOTHER MISSED TACKLE. SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF COREY KINER AND ALSO THE CONFIDENCE OF COREY KINER. LAST YEAR, KINER RAN FOR 153 YARDS AGAINST PITT. WHEN HE SEES THAT COLOR, THE PITT UNIFORM, HE SAYS I KNOW WHAT I CAN DO AGAINST THESE GUYS. HE'S RUNNING WITH STRENGTH BUT ALSO CONFIDENCE AS WELL. >> Roy: SAID HE PATTERNS HIS GAME AFTER KENNETH WALKER. DAVID MONTGOMERY AND THAT LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY. KINER AGAIN. ZONE RUN DOWN TO THE SIX. McINTYRE AT TACKLE. A GAIN OF FIVE MORE. >> Sam: NOTICE WHO IS FALLING FORWARD AND WHO IS GOING BACKWARDS. EVERY TIME KINER HAS THE BALL, HE'S ALWAYS GOING FORWARD. THE DEFENSE IS NOT KNOCKING HIM BACK. THAT SPEAKS SOMETHING TO THE OFFENSIVE LINE. THEY SAY LET'S BLOCK HARDER FOR HIM BECAUSE THEY KNOW HE'LL GET THEM INTO THE END ZONE. THE. >> Roy: PANTHERS ELECT NOT TO STOP THE CLOCK ON SECOND DOWN. EVAN PRYOR COMES IN AT RUNNING BACK. BEARCATS CAN PICK UP A FIRST DOWN WITHOUT SCORING. 40 SECONDS REMAINING IN THE HALF. SORSBY BACK TO THE AIR. BROKEN UP IN THE LAST MINUTE. LYNUM GOT THERE JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME. >> Sam: LYNUM MADE AN OUTSTANDING PLAY BECAUSE TURNER WAS OPEN IN THE END ZONE. LYNUM GETS OFF THIS COVERAGE AND ATTACKS THE FOOTBALL BUT GOES THROUGH THE MAN TO GET TO THE FOOTBALL. WITHOUT THAT PLAY, GREAT JOB PLAYING THE BALL AND RIPPING IT OUT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG-TIME TOUCHDOWN BY THE OFFENSIVE LINE AND SORSBY. >> Roy: THREE YEARS IN LINCOLN. STARTED ONE GAME LAST YEAR FOR THE HUSKERS. NOW THE PANTHERS UTILIZE A TIME-OUT ON THIRD AND SIX. THE CLOCK HAD ALREADY BEEN PAUSED ON THE INCOMPLETION. BOTH SIDES GET A CHANCE TO TALK IT OVER. COMING UP ON ESPN+, MIZZOU HOSTING BUFFALO. FLORIDA AND SAMFORD. TONIGHT, LSU HOSTING NICHOLLS AT 7:30 FROM DEATH VALLEY. TO GET ESPN+, GO TO ESPN+.COM OR DOWNLOAD THE ESPN APP. THE GATORS AND TIGERS COMING OFF OF EARLY SETBACKS A WEEK AGO. BRIAN KELLY POUNDING THE TABLE IN HIS POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE, HAD SOCIAL MEDIA ABLAZE FOR A COUPLE DAYS. WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TONIGHT. WHAT CAN THE BEARCATS DO HERE ON THIRD DOWN? ROYER IN THE BACKFIELD. NOW IN MOTION. OPEN IN THE FLAT. CHASED THE OTHER WAY. SORSBY. BACK OF THE END ZONE AND OUT OF BOUNDS. PANTHERS DIAL UP THE PRESSURE. THEY GET HOME FORCING THE INCOMPLETION. KYLE LOUIS MADE SURE SORSBY NEVER HAD A CHANCE. >> Sam: LOUIS HAD TO MAKE THAT PLAY. NUMBER ONE, ROYER WAS COVERED IN THE FLAT. NUMBER TWO, THERE'S A RECEIVER WIDE OPEN IN THE BACKFIELD. WITHOUT THAT PRESSURE BY LOUIS, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY TOUCHDOWN. ROYER WAS THE PRIMARY READ. ROYER IS COVERED. SO, LOUIS SAYS, OKAY, HE'S COVERED. I'LL GET THAT PRESSURE TO KEEP THIS FROM BEING A TOUCHDOWN. BIG-TIME STOP BY PITT. >> Roy: CARTER BROWN, A 25-YARD EFFORT FORTHCOMING AFTER CONNECTING FROM 47 YARDS EARLIER. HE DOES NOT CONNECT HERE. BROWN OFF THE MARK. A WIN FOR THE PITT DEFENSE HERE AT THE END OF THE HALF. >> Sam: NOT ONLY A WIN, BUT A SEVEN-POINT SWING. FIRST YOU STOP THE TOUCHDOWN, THEN YOU HOLD THEM TO A FIELD GOAL. THE LACES -- LOOK WHERE THE LACES ARE POINTING. IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THEN YOU HAVE A MISSED FIELD GOAL. NUMBER ONE, KEEP POINTS OFF THE BOARD. NUMBER TWO, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS HERE, YOU GET THE BALL BACK TO BEGIN THE SECOND HALF. >> Roy: I DIDN'T PLAY IN COLLEGE LIKE YOU DID, AS A HIGH SCHOOL PLACE KICKER, I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES KICKING THE LACES SQUARE ON. >> Sam: WERE YOU REALLY A PLACE KICKER? >> Roy: I WAS. >> Sam: WHAT WAS THE PERCENTAGE? >> Roy: I WASN'T GREAT, BUT I MADE ONE FROM 44 YARDS. HOLSTEIN BACK ON THE FIELD. A PUMP FAKE. THE CHECK DOWN TO REID. A SPIN AND A FIRST DOWN. PANTHERSWITH ONE TIME-OUT REMAINING. A GAIN OF 20. >> Referee: TIME-OUT, PITT. THEIR THIRD AND FINAL. >> Roy: THE PANTHERS UTILIZING THAT FINAL PAUSE. TRYING TO MAKE SOME KIND OF MAGIC HAPPEN HERE AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF. KICK OFF YOUR WEEK ONE NFL SUNDAY WITH THE COUNTDOWN CREW. TROY AIKMAN SITTING DOWN WITH DAK PRESCOTT. A LOOK INSIDE THE QUARTERBACK ROOM DYNAMIC THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SEASON FOR PITTSBURGH AND ATLANTA, ALONG WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND NOTES FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE AND OUR INSIDER, ADAM SCHEFTER. "SUNDAY NFL COUNTDOWN" 10:00 A.M. EASTERN THE PLACE TO BE. SAM ACHO, ROY PHILPOTT, TAYLOR DAVIS. >> Sam: 13 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'RE THINKING OUT OF BOUNDS, FIRST DOWN. OUT OF BOUNDS, THE CLOCK WILL STOP. >> Roy: HOLSTEIN STEPS UP AND DELIVERS. BARTHOLOMEW, INCOMPLETE. SEVEN SECONDS REMAINING. >> Sam: THAT'S BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO GET OFF MAYBE TWO PLAYS. YOU CAN GET TO THE SIDELINE QUICK. YOU NEED ABOUT 30 YARDS TO GET INTO FIELD GOAL RANGE. YOU MIGHT TRY A DEEP OUT ROUTE TO THE SIDELINE, THAT MIGHT TAKE ABOUT FIVE SECONDS. TRY TO GET YOURSELF IN FIELD GOAL RANGE. SEVEN SECONDS IS ON THE PRECIPICE OF BEING ABLE TO RUN A SECOND PLAY. >> Roy: UNEVEN START FOR THIS PITT OFFENSE THAT PUT UP 55 A WEEK AGO. HOLSTEIN AGAIN FLUSH. WANTS TO HEAVE ONE DEEP. THE PASS CAUGHT BY MUMPFIELD AT THE 35. THE CLOCK SHOWING TRIPLE ZERO. A GAIN OF 26. >> Referee: PLEASE PUT ONE SECOND ON THE GAME CLOCK. THE CLOCK WILL START ON MY SIGNATURE NALL. >> Roy: ONE SECOND WILL BE ADDED. YOU NEED THREE TO CLOCK THE FOOTBALL. >> Referee: TIME-OUT FOR AN INJURY TO A DEFENSIVE PLAYER. >> Roy: KEN WILLIS BACK IN PITTSBURGH'S BACKFIELD, SO IS DONTAY CORLEONE. AN INTERESTING TURN OF EVENTS HERE AT THE END OF THE HALF. BEN SAULS DOES HAVE AMPLE LEG STRENGTH. HIS LONG OF 50 YARDS IN HIS CAREER. HE DOES HAVE A GAME-WINNER FROM 47 YARDS OUT. THAT CAME IN THE SUN BOWL. CORLEONE HELPED TO HIS FEET. >> Sam: LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE BRINGING OUT SAULS TO KICK THE FIELD GOAL. >> Roy: THE INJURED BEAR CAT PLAYERS PAUSED THE CLOCK. THIS VETERAN OFFICIATING CREW MEETING TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN TERMS OF THE TIMING. >> Sam: PITT ALREADY LINED UP, READY TO SNAP THE BALL. >> Roy: IT WILL BE A 53-YARD EFFORT. FROM BEN SAULS. PERFECT A WEEK AGO. TIME FOR ONE MORE PLAY. SNAPPED DOWN. THE HOLD. KICK ON THE WAY. PENALTY MARKER COMES IN. THE KICK IS GOOD. SAULS ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED THAT. THE FIELD GOAL STANDS. PERHAPS A SPARK ENTERING HALFTIME FOR A TEAM THAT LACKED PUNCH IN THE FIRST 30 MINUTES. >> Referee: PERSONAL FOUL, ROUGHING THE SNAPPER, DEFENSE, NUMBER 26. THAT 15-YARD PENALTY WILL BE CARRIED OVER TO THE SECOND HALF KICKOFF. THE FIELD GOAL IS GOOD. IT'S HALFTIME. >> Roy: MAKE IT 17-6. THE PANTHERS WILL RECEIVE THE SECOND HALF KICKOFF WITH LIKELY OUTSTANDING FIELD POSITION TO . >> Roy: 17-6 AS WE GET SET FOR THE SECOND HALF. SAM ACHO, ROY PHILPOTT, TAYLOR DAVIS. BEARCATS LEADING PITTSBURGH. TODAY'S PLAYER SPOTLIGHT BROUGHT TO YOU BY FEBREZE. ADVANTAGE BRENDAN SORSBY WITH THE FIRST HALF THROWING OVER 200 YARDS. >> Sam: SORSBY LOOKED OUTSTANDING. THIS IS HOLSTEIN'S FIRST START IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. LAST WEEK HE STARTED AT HOME. NOW HE'S PLAYING SOMEWHERE ELSE. LET'S SEE HOW THE RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN STARTS THIS HALF. >> Roy: PITT TRAILING 17-3. THIS MASSIVE COMPLETION, HOLSTEIN GETS IT ACROSS THE MIDDLE. THE CLOCK WILL STOP ON THE FIRST DOWN. TWO BEARCATS DEFENDERS THEN GO DOWN WITH INJURIES RESULTING IN THE OPTION FOR PITTSBURGH FOR THE TEN-SECOND RUNOFF, WHICH THEY DID NOT WANT OR THE STOP IN PLAY, WHICH THEY DID WANT. ONE SECOND WAS PUT BACK ON THE CLOCK. 53-YARD BOMB IS CONNECTED ON BY BEN SAULS. A SPARK AT THE END OF THE HALF. LET'S SEE IF THAT RESONATES TO BEGIN OUR THIRD QUARTER. KENNY JOHNSON WITH A PATH. A NICE RETURN. ALL THE WAY AHEAD TO MIDFIELD. 38-YARD RETURN. THERE WAS A PERSONAL FOUL PENALTY TACKED ON AT THE END OF THE HALF RESULTING A KICKOFF THAT WAS ALL THE WAY BACK AT THE 20. PITTSBURGH NOW IN A PRIME POSITION, TAYLOR DAVIS. >> Taylor: THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT PAT NARDUZZI TOLD ME AT HALFTIME. HE TOLD ME THIS WILL START WITH GOOD FIELD POSITION. WHEN YOUR OFFENSE IS NOT IN RHYTHM, YOU CAN'T BE HAVING SPECIAL TEAMS PENALTIES AT NOT PUTTING US IN GOOD POSITIONS. DEFENSIVELY HE FELT LIKE THEY GAINED MOMENTUM TOWARDS THE END OF THE FIRST HALF. HE SAID WE'RE ON THE FIELD TOO MUCH. WE HAVE TO GET OFF QUICKER. >> Roy: THEY WILL START THIS DRIVE IN CINCINNATI TERRITORY. PANTHERS HAVE IT. INSIDE GIVE TO DES REID. FOUR-YARD GAIN. CORLEONE THE TACKLE. DONTAY CORLEONE BACK IN ACTION. DIAGNOSED WITH BLOOD CLOTS IN HIS LUNGS BACK IN THE SUMMER. MISSED LAST WEEK. NOW HEALTHY AND READY TO GO, WEARING NUMBER 2 THIS WEEK. HOLSTEIN WLL BE FLUSH. HE'LL PICK UP THE FIRST DOWN, RACING OUT OF BOUNDS WITH A MARKER BACK AT THE 41. >> Sam: SMART PLAY BY HOLSTEIN. THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A RUNNING BACK SCREEN TO DES REID. IT WAS COVERED BY THE INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE. HOLSTEIN KEPT IT AND RAN WITH IT. >> Referee: HOLDING, OFFENSE, NUMBER 50. TEN-YARD PERSONAL. SECOND DOWN. >> Roy: THAT'S A MICROCOSM OF THIS WHOLE GAME SO FAR FOR PITT. SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENS, A PENALTY, A TURNOVER, IT DERAILS A POSSESSION. >> Sam: THEY TAKE ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACKWARDS, IT SEEMS, WHETHER IT'S ON SPECIAL TEAMS WITH PENALTIES, OFFENSE WITH PENALTIES. THEY HAVE TO BUILD SOME MOMENTUM AND RHYTHM. I LOVED THE PLAY CALL ON THAT LAST PLAY, BUT THE HOLDING NEGATES ANOTHER POSITIVE FOR PITT. >> Referee: THIRD HOLDING PENALTY OF THE GAME FOR THE PANTHERS. REID. TRYING TO BUST IT OUTSIDE. TO THE EDGE. HE'LL GET THERE. IT'S THAT SECONDARY GEAR RACING OUT OF BOUNDS. NINE-YARD PICKUP. >> Sam: IT'S THAT JUICE WE TALKED ABOUT. REID COULD HAVE HIT IT INSIDE, INSTEAD HE TRUSTS HIS SPEED TO BE ABLE TO LEAN IN AND BOUNCE OUTSIDE. >> Roy: WAS COMMITTED TO COASTAL CAROLINA, TRANSFERRING OUT OF WESTERN CAROLINA BEFORE PITT SAW THE TAPE AND REID FALLS DOWN IN THE BACKFIELD. >> Sam: HE HAD IT, TOO. HE HAD THAT OUTSIDE WIDE OPEN. IF HE WOULD HAVE KEPT HIS FEET, HE COULD HAVE BOUNCED OUTSIDE AND GOT A FIRST DOWN. HE SLIPPED, LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE STAYING ON THE FIELD AND GOING FOR THAT FOURTH DOWN. >> Roy: ANALYTICS ON FOURTH AND THREE WILL TELL YOU TO GO IF IT'S FOURTH OR SIX OR LESS. HOLSTEIN AVOIDS THE PRESSURE. DANCING. STILL ALIVE. HOLSTEIN. FLOATS IT AHEAD AND I DON'T KNOW. THEY WILL RULE IT INCOMPLETE. THE PANTHERS TURN IT OVER ON DOWNS. REID IS SLOW TO GET UP. >> Sam: THE PLAY OUT TO THE FLAT WAS UNAVAILABLE. IT WASN'T OPEN. HOLSTEIN, HE WANTS TO GET IT OUT THERE. HE CAN'T. GREAT JOB BY THE INTERIOR RUSH. HOLSTEIN STAYS ALIVE. TRIES TO GET IT OUT TO DES REID. UNFORTUNATELY DES REID IS NOT ABLE TO GET IT. DES REID IS STILL DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. >> Roy: HE REMAINS ON THE TURF. JUNIOR OUT OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA ORIGINALLY. HELPED UP WITH A BIT OF ASSISTANCE WALKING OFF UNDER HIS OWN POWER, TAYLOR DAVIS. >> Taylor: I SPOKE WITH COACH SATTERFIELD AT HALFTIME. I ASKED THEM HOW THEY'RE HANDLING PITT'S TEMPO. HE SAID VERY WELL. WE'RE LINED UP WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO ELIMINATE THIS WEEK AGAINST PITT WAS THE BIG PLAYS. HE EMPHASIZED THAT AT HALFTIME, MAKING SURE THEY DO THAT MORE IN THE SECOND HALF. PRAISE FOR HIS QUARTERBACK, BRENDAN SORSBY AND HOW HE'S SEEING THIS. HE SAID KEEP IN MIND, HE DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF PRESSURE IN WEEK ONE'S CONTEST. HE HAS TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THE BALL AND FINISH DRIVES WITH TOUCHDOWNS. DEFENSIVE END, ROB JACKSON IS OUT THE REMAINDER OF THE GAME. >> Roy: SOMETHING TO WATCH. KINER. GEORGE BROUGHT HIM DOWN QUICKLY. SECOND AND LONG. BEARCATS JUST METHODICALLY GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS IN THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS. SORSBY PRECISE IN THE PASSING GAME AND THE TOUCHDOWN PASS TO JAMOI MAYES SET THE TABLE FOR AN IMPRESSIVE FIRST HALF. >> Sam: HE HAS NOT TURNED THE BALL OVER. BALL CONTROL FOR THIS CINCINNATI OFFENSE. >> Roy: EIGHT DIFFERENT RE RECEIVERS HAVE CAUGHT PASSES AS WELL. JOHNSON STEPS IN FRONT OF THE DEFENDER. PICKS UP FIRST DOWN YARDAGE. THE BATTLE WENT FOR THE PICK. DIDN'T GET THERE. >> Sam: BAD DECISION BY BATTLE. WHEN YOU'RE ON AN ISLAND, YOUR JOB IF YOU CAN'T GET THE PICK, MAKE THE TACKLE. IF YOU'RE GOING TO ATTACK THE BALL, ATTACK ONLY WITH YOUR INSIDE HAND, NOT THE OUTSIDE, THEN YOU'RE BEHIND THE RECEIVER AND YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO MAKE A PLAY. THE BETTER TECHNIQUE WOULD BE TO TRY AND GO THROUGH THE RECEIVER, GET THAT INSIDE HAND UP SO YOUR OUTSIDE HAND IS STILL FREE TO MAKE A TACKLE. >> Roy: BRENDAN SORSBY AND SCOTT SATTERFIELD REITERATED TO US THIS WEEK, WE HAVE TO STAY OUT OF THIRD DOWN AND LONG IN THIS GAME. THEY'VE DONE IT SO FAR. SORSBY ON THE GROUND. SEVEN-YARD GAIN ON THE SCRAMBLE. >> Sam: IF I'M NARDUZZI, I HAVE TO BE SO FRUSTRATED. WE'RE BLITZING, BUT NOT GETTING HOME. WE HAVE A WIDE-OPEN SHOT AT THE QUARTERBACK, BUT INSTEAD WE'RE RUNNING UPNEFIELD AND GOING AROD HIM RATHER THAN TO HIM. THE PRESSURE THAT SHOULD BE GETTING THERE, YOUR PLAYERS ARE GETTING BLOCKED BY RUNNING BACKS AND TIGHT ENDS. >> Roy: BEARCATS PLAYING KEEP-AWAY SO FAR. 2-1 ADVANTAGE IN THE TIME OF POSSESSION DEPARTMENT. GOOD DELIVERY. ON THE PERIMETER BY HENDERSON. >> Sam: THE COURAGE BY SORSBY, STANDING IN THERE, GETTING HIT BY JIMMY SCOTT ON THE QUARTERBACK PRESSURE. SORSBY KNEW HE WOULD GET HIT, HE ACCEPTED THAT PRESSURE TO ALLOW TIME FOR HENDERSON TO GET OPEN. YOU SEE THE PRESSURE COMING AT HIS FACE BY SCOTT. HE STANDS IN THE POCKET. RECEIVERS SEE THAT, OFFENSIVE LINEMEN SEE THAT, THEY RALLY BEHIND THAT. >> Roy: KINER. INSIDE ZONE. TUMBLING AHEAD FOR A TWO-YARD GAIN. TALKED WITH BRENDAN YESTERDAY, MENTIONING PREGAME MUSIC AND RITUALS, DIFFERENT THINGS YOU WANT TO DO. HE DULLS IT DOWN TO START, AND THEN THERE'S A BUILD UP IN THE HEADSET ON THE FIELD. NUMBER 2 IN RED AND WHITE SAYS HE STARTS OUT WITH A LITTLE COLDPLAY, WILL AMP IT UP AS HE GETS CLOSER TO KICKOFF. EVAN PRYOR BACK ON THE FIELD AT RUNNING BACK FOR THE BEARCATS. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS AN ACHO FAVORITE. GET READY FOR ALL THOSE BIG GAMES IN THE NFL. THROUGH THE HANDS OF HENDERSON. HIS GO-TO RECEIVER. >> Sam: NOT A LOT OF COLDPLAY ON MY PLAY LIST. THERE WAS SOME SONGS THAT HAD. HENDERSON THERE, ONE-ON-ONE. HE'S GOING TO WIN ON THE ROUTE, BUT THE BALL IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OVERTHROWN. THEY'RE GOING AFTER BATTLE AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. THAT WAS BATTLE IN COVERAGE. SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE TARGETING BATTLE NUMBER 15 AND STEP UP IF HE CAN MAKE A PLAY. LOOKS LIKE THEY TRUST THEIR RECEIVERS MORE THAN THEY TRUST HIM. >> Reporter: BEARCATS 5 OF 9 ON THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS IN THIS GAME. SEVENTH PLAY OF THE DRIVE. BACK TO 9 WELL ONE MORE TIME. HENDERSON. AGAINST BATTLE. A GAIN OF 13. DRIVE CONTINUES. >> Sam: XZAVIER HENDERSON HAD A 42-YARD TOUCHDOWN LAST WEEK ON THE DEEP POST. YOU CAN BE AFRAID OF HIS SPEED. HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING VERTICAL, STOPS ON A DIME AND GETS THAT COMEBACK. HE CAN BE A WEAPON IN THIS OFFENSE BECAUSE OF THE BIG PLAY ABILITY. AS A DEFENDER, YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO STOP THE DEEP SHOT, INSTEAD HE STOPS QUICKLY AND MAKES A FIRST DOWN. >> Roy: HIS SPEED ON THE DEEP BALL WILL BE A WEAPON THIS YEAR IN IT THE BIG 12 FOR THE BEARCATS. ROYER IN MOTION. THEY'LL BLOW THIS PLAY DEAD. >> Referee: FALSE START, OFFENSE, NUMBER 56. FIVE-YARD PENALTY. FIRST DOWN. >> Roy: YOU AND I KEEP LOOKING AT EACH OTHER FROM OUR BROADCAST POSITION WAITING FOR PITTSBURGH TO MAKE SOME KIND OF PLAY. TRUTHFULLY, IT'S BEEN ALL CINCINNATI UP TO THIS POINT, LEADING BY JUST 11. THE GAME STILL THERE FOR THE TAKING. NO MOMENTUM. WE HAVE NOT SENSED THAT SPARK OUT OF PAT NARDUZZI'S BUNCH JUST YET. >> Sam: I DON'T SEE THE SPARK ON THE FIELD. THE DEFENSE LOOKS FLAT. YOU WOULD HOPE ONE PLAYER. WE SAW RASHEEM BILES DO IT IN THE FIRST HALF. ONE PLAYER ON THAT DEFENSE WOULD MAKE A PLAY. SOMETIMES MAKING A PLAY MEANS STAYING IN YOUR GAP. >> Referee: TIME-OUT. >> S >> R >> Roy: YOU'RE WATCHING THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE ON ESPN. A SUN-SPLASHED SATURDAY AFTERNOON ON THE CAMPUS OF UC. BEARCATS LEADING PITT 17-6. SAM ACHO, ROY PHILPOTT, TAYLOR DAVIS. THE BEARCATS RETURNING ALL FIVE STARTERS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE. THEIR 13th CONSECUTIVE START WITH THE SAME STARTING FIVE LED BY LUKE KANDRA. STARTED HIS CAREER AT LOUISVILLE. THIS GUY HAS BEEN PAVING THE WAY. BEARCATS ON THE GROUND AND THROUGH THE AIR WITH BRENDAN SORSBY. SO EFFICIENT TODAY. TURNER DROPPING DOWN TO GRAB THAT BALL. SIX MORE THROUGH THE AIR FOR NUMBER 9 IN RED AND WHITE. >> Sam: CINCINNATI IS HAVING THEIR WAY IT THE PITTSBURGH DEFENSE, WHETHER IT'S IN THE RUN GAME, ON THE OUTSIDE ZONE, WHETHER IT'S HANDLING THE BLITZ AND PLAYING SCREENS OR EVEN WHEN PITT DECIDES NOT TO BLITZ, CINCINNATI TAKES THEIR TIME AND SPREADS THE BALL OUT. SOMEBODY ON THAT PITT DEFENSE HAS TO STEP UP AND MAKE A PLAY EITHER ON A SACK, ON PRESSURE, OR ON COVERAGE. >> Roy: THIS DRIVE STARTED AFTER PITT TURNED IT OVER ON DOWNS. BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE THERE. THIRD AND LONG COMING UP. NINTH PLAY OF THE DRIVE, CHOPPED DOWN BY JIMMY SCOTT. >> Sam: THAT'S AN OUTSIDE ZONE PLAY. JIMMY SCOTT IS AN EDGE DEFENDER, HE BEAT HIS ONE-ON-ONE. HE WON IN ONE-ON-ONE, AND HAD A TACKLE FOR LOSS, FORCING THEM INTO THIRD AND LONG. >> Roy: IT'S AN ENTIRELY NEW DEFENSIVE FRONT FOR THE PANTHERS THIS YEAR. LOSING A HANDFUL OF PLAYERS TO THE PORTAL, ADDING GUYS LIKE NATE MATLACK, NICK JAMES. KINER IN THE BACKFIELD ON THIRD AND LONG. SORSBY. JOE ROYER! A TOUCHDOWN FROM 16 YARDS OUT. HEY, JOE! >> Sam: ANY TIME YOU HAVE A TIGHT END AT NUMBER 3, THE THIRD RECEIVER INSIDE, IT'S A PROBLEM FOR INSIDE DEFENDERS. JOE ROYER IS NOT JUST YOUR REGULAR TIGHT END. HE'S 6'5" 255, AND CAN RUN ROUTES. ONE OF THE BEST TIGHT ENDS IN ALL OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL. HE'S LINED UP ON GUYS WHO CAN'T COVER HIM. EASY TOUCHDOWN. THE. >> Roy: HE SAID HE DOESN'T SAY A LOT IN FRONT OF THE TEAM OR IN THE MEDIA, BUT AROUND THE GUYS, HE'S WHO YOU WANT TO >> >> Roy: 24-6, NIPPERT STADIUM ON ITS FEET. A CAPACITY CROWD. HALFWAY HOME IN OUR THIRD QUARTER. SAM ACHO, ROY PHILPOTT, TAYLOR DAVIS. JOY ROYER REACHING THE END ZONE A MOMENT AGO. THE TRANSFER FROM OHIO STATE. TAYLOR, HE'S OVERCOME A LOT OF ADVERSITY IN HIS YOUNG LIFE, HASN'T HE? >> Taylor: HE SURE HAS. RETURNING HOME TO CINCINNATI WASN'T JUST ABOUT FOOTBALL. UNFORTUNATELY HE LOST HIS MOTHER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022. HE WANTED TO COME BACK HOME TO CINCINNATI TO BE CLOSER TO HIS DAD AND HIS FAMILY. HE ACTUALLY HAS A TATTOO OF HIS MOTHER'S PICTURE ON HIS RIGHT ARM, VERY VISIBLE AND NOTICEABLE. HE SAID SHE LOVED TO WATCH HIM PLAY THEN AND SHE STILL IS WHAT MOTIVATES HIM NOW. >> Roy: THAT'S A PLAYER, SAM, THAT HAS DEALT WITH INJURIES GOING BACK TO HIS TIME IN COLUMBUS, AND NOW RETURNING HOME OBVIOUSLY TO BE CLOSER TO HIS FAMILY. REMARKABLE STORY FOR A YOUNG MAN THAT'S GOT A REAL CHANCE IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND HE REUNITES WITH LUKE KANDRA, WHO WAS HIS HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATE AT ELDER. KANDRA TRANSFERRED IN FROM LOUISVILLE, AND JOE COMING IN FROM OHIO STATE. THE TWO AT THAT POWERHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL REUNITED FOR THE BEARCATS. >> Sam: BRINGING BACK SOME OF THAT CHEMISTRY THEY HAD IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SOME OF THE CONFIDENCE THAT ROYER HAD AT OHIO STATE. THEY'RE BRINGING SOME OF THAT TO CINCINNATI. YOU'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS QUICKLY. >> Roy: ELI HOLSTEIN BACK ON THE FIELD. HE DID WIN THE QUARTERBACK BATTLE IN THE OFF-SEASON WITH NATE YARNELL. THAT BATTLE ENSUED DEEP INTO PRESEASON CAMP BEFORE HOLSTEIN CEMENTED HIS STATUS AS QB1. DUMP OUT TO DERRICK DAVIS JR. SHOVED DOWN HARD BY MILLER. >> Taylor: DESMOND REID WAS TAKEN TO THE SIDELINE AND HAD HIS LOWER LEFT LEG EVALUATED. HE PUT A WRAP ON IT. HE'S CLEAR TO GO BUT DEFINITELY UNCOMFORTABLE. >> Roy: PLAY ACTION, HOLSTEIN, LOOKING IN THE SEAM. IT'S NOT AVAILABLE. KENNY JOHNSON THE INTENDED RECEIVER. HOLSTEIN TRIED TO FIT ONE IN THERE. >> Sam: I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS TRYING TO FIT IT. NOT ONLY WAS IT NOT AVAILABLE, BOTH DEFENDERS RAN THE ROUTE. BARTLETT AND STOKES WERE IN FRONT OF THE RECEIVER. SO, THAT WAS NOT A GREAT DECISION BY THE QUARTERBACK TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO THROW THAT ONE. >> Roy: IT'S GETTING LOUD IN NIPPERT. >> Sam: I LOVE THE COMMUNICATION ON THE BACK END. THOSE DEFENSIVE BACKS ARE TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW EVERYONE IS COVERED. >> Roy: BEARCATS SHOW PRESSURE. LOW SNAP. HOLSTEIN. FINDS A WAY. PASS DEFLECTED. INCOMPLETE. IT WOBBLED ITS WAY TO KENNY JOHNSON. THE PANTHERS NOW 0 FOR THE LAST 5 ON THIRD DOWN. >> Sam: THAT PLAY WAS MADE BY B BARTLETT. THAT DEFENSIVE PLAYER IS ESSENTIALLY A FOURTH RUSHER. PLAYING THE PASS IS HUGELY IMPORTANT. >> Roy: JUNKO OFF THE SIDE OF HIS FOOT. THE BEARCATS WITH OUTSTANDING FIELD POSITION AFTER THE ERRANT PUNT. A NET OF JUST 13 YARDS, SAM. THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF A TURNOVER. >> Sam: THAT'S HIDDEN YARDAGE IN FOOTBALL. A 13-YARD PUNT. TWO PENALTIES ON RETURNS. THE UNFORCED MISTAKES CONTINUE FOR THIS PITTSBURGH TEAM. THEY'RE BEATING THEMSELVES. WE CAN'T BEAT OURSELVES. THEY'RE BEATING THEMSELVES IN EVERY FACET OF THE GAME. >> Roy: YOU WONDER IF AT SOME POINT, PAT NARDUZZI WILL LOOK DEEPER INTO HIS QUARTERBACK BENCH. COMPETITION THAT WAS THERE BETWEEN ELI HOLSTEIN AND NATE YARNELL. HOLSTEIN JUST 8 OF 21 PASSING, 94 YARDS AND A PICK. SORSBY BACK ON THE FIELD. KINER BOWLS OVER A DEFENDER. STOPPED AT THE 36. DONOVAN McMILLON ON THE WRONG END OF THAT COLLISION. >> Sam: THIS PITT DEFENSE HAS BEEN ON THE WRONG END OF NEARLY EVERY COLLISION WHEN COREY KINER HAS THE BALL. IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE FOR ME FOR CINCINNATI DEFENSIVELY AND SO DEMORALIZING FOR PITT DEFENSIVELY WHEN EVERY TIME THEY'RE TOUCHING THE BALL THEY'RE GETTING FOUR YARDS, FIVE YARDS, SIX YARDS AND PHYSICALLY IMPOSING THEIR WILL ON YOU. >> Roy: KINER NOW APPROACHING 80 YARDS ON THE GROUND. DEEP HANDOFF. KINER. STAYS ON HIS FEET. THE VISION, THE BALANCE, AND THE SPEED FOR THE VETERAN RUNNING BACK. >> Sam: THE BLOCKING UP FRONT AS WELL. NUMBER 67 HAD A CRITICAL BLOCK ON THAT OUTSIDE ZONE PLAY. THE WAY THE PLAY HAS GOT TO BE MADE IS FROM THE BACK END. HE GETS TO THE SECOND LEVEL AND TAKES CARE OF TWO PLAYERS, NO HOLDING, GREAT INSIDE HAND PLACEMENT AND CAUSES ANOTHER BIG-TIME PLAY. >> Roy: COREY KINER SAID THIS WEEK, I LOVE MY OFFENSIVE LINE. THOSE GUYS A WEEK AGO IN THE WEEK AGAINST TOWNSEND, I HIT THE SECOND LEVEL BEFORE THERE WAS CONTACT MOST OF MY CARRIES. SORSBY THROWS THAT ONE AWAY. SECOND DOWN AND GOAL FROM THE TEN. RUNNING BACKS ALWAYS HAVE TO COMPLIMENT THE O-LINE. YOU HAVE TO TAKE THOSE GUYS OUT TO DINNER, MASSAGE THAT RELATIONSHIP A BIT. BIG DUDES WILL BLOCK MORE FOR YOU AND HARDER DOWN THE STRETCH. >> Sam: THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS OFFENSE SO SPECIAL. LAST YEAR THEY WERE THE FIFTH-RANKED OFFENSE IN ALL OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL. IT DOESN'T END THERE, IT CONTINUES WITH THE RUNNING BACK. >> Roy: CHANCE WILLIAMS, THE NEW RUNNING BACK. A BREATHER FOR C.K. SMITH WENT IN MOTION. WILLIAMS WEAVES HIS WAY AHEAD FOR A COUPLE. THIRD DOWN AND GOAL AFTER THE TACKLE BY BRANDON GEORGE. >> Sam: AS FAR AS THE DEFENSE GOES, IF YOU WANT TO SLOW DOWN THESE PLAYS, YOU HAVE TO CHASE ON THE BACK END. >> Referee: TIME-OUT FOR INJURY TO A DEFENSIVE PLAYER. >> Roy: SCOTT SATTERFIELD TOLD US THIS WEEK, WE'RE A CLOSE-KNIT >>> AT&T IS KEEPING FANS CONNECTED AS WE LOOK AT OUR MULTI-VIEW. ON ESPN, TULANE A 20-10 LEAD ON K-STATE. ARKANSAS LEADS OKLAHOMA STATE 21-10 ON ABC. KEEL McCORD, THREE TOUCHDOWNS UP ON GEORGIA TECH. >> Roy: HOW ABOUT THAT. WE APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. BRENDAN SORSBY AND THE BEARCATS OF CINCINNATI GETTING THE JOB DONE HERE AT HOME AGAINST PITT. THIRD AND GOAL, THAT PASS SAILS INCOMPLETE. BACK CORNER OF THE END ZONE. HENDERSON, THE INTENDED RECEIVER. ANOTHER CHANCE COMING UP FOR CARTER BROWN. >> Sam: BIG STOP BY THE DEFENSE. GREAT COVERAGE. THEY HAD ROYER COVERED. GANDY WAS THERE STOPPING XZAVIER HENDERSON. STOPS LIKE THAT COULD POTENTIALL GIVE YOU SOME MOMENTUM. YOU HAVE TO START GETTING SOME JUICE OFFENSIVELY AS WELL. >> Roy: THIS ATTEMPT FROM 26 YARDS OUT. FROM STRAIGHT AWAY, BROWN THIS TIME IS GOOD. STILL A THREE-SCORE GAME. ADVANTAGE NOW PUSHED TO 21. UNDER FIVE TO GO IN THE THIRD QUARTER. WHAT A LINEUP FOR THIS WEEKEND. MONDAY, THE U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S FINAL. ABC SATURDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRIPLE HEADER CAPPED OFF WITH TENNESSEE AND N.C. STATE. U.S. OPEN MEN'S FINAL TOMORROW AFTERNOON ON ABC. MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS BACK, WEEK ONE MATCH-UP, AARON RODGERS RETURNS FOR THE JETS TAKING ON CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY AND THE 49ers. EVERYTHING ALSO OF COURSE ON ESPN+. TAYLOR FRIZ PUNCHING HIS WAY INTO THE U.S. OPEN FILES. THE AMERICAN TRYING TO WIN A MAJOR. THAT SHOULD BE AN EXCITING FINALE. CINCINNATI THROUGH THE AIR, BRENDAN SORSBY, INDIANA TRANSFER, ENTERED THE PORTAL ON NOVEMBER 27th LAST YEAR. COMMITTED TO THE BEARCATS LESS THAN TEN DAYS LATER. A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN SO FAR WITH SCOTT SATTERFIELD. HAWKS SENDS IT DEEP OVER THE HEAD OF KENNY JOHNSON. NO SIGN OF THE BACKUP SIGNAL CALLER FOR THE PANTHERS. ELI HOLSTEIN, HUGE NUMBERS LAST WEEK. STILL TRYING TO FIND THAT MOJO IN HIS SECOND START. >> Sam: HE'S BEING CONFUSED AND CONFOUNDED BY THE DEFENSE. TYSON VEIDT IS GIVING DIFFERENT LOOKS THAN HE GAVE LAST WEEK. LAST WEEK IT WAS A LOT OF EIGHT-MAN DROPS, A FEW PRESSURES. THIS WEEK, A BIT MORE PRESSURE, FOUR-MAN RUSH. HE'S CAUSING CONFUSION FOR THE RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN IN HIS SECOND START. >> Roy: THIS DEFENSE AT IOWA STATE THAT GAVE TEAMS LIKE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA CONUNDRUMS FOR ALL THOSE YEARS IN THE BIG 12. WORKING UNDER JOHN HE HAS CROCK, THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IN AMES. IN CINCINNATI, HE'S BEEN ON POINT WITH THE 3-3-5. DESMOND REID BACK ON THE FIELD. SCAMPERS AHEAD FOR NINE. A FIRST DOWN AND A LOT MORE. REID INTO CINCINNATI TERRITORY. PENALTY MARKERS COME IN. CENSERE LEE, HIS FORMER TEAMMATE AT WESTERN CAROLINA WILL BE CALLED FOR AN INFRACTION HERE. THAT'S A 39-YARD GAIN PENDING THE PENALTY. >> Referee: HOLDING, OFFENSE, NUMBER 11. TEN-YARD PENALTY. FIRST DOWN. >> Sam: THAT'S A SPOT FOUL BY THE OFFENSE. TEN YARDS FROM WHERE THE HOLDING OCCURRED. I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HIDDEN YARDAGE. THE MISTAKES. EVERY TIME PITT TAKES A STEP FORWARD, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY JUMP BACKWARDS. THEY DO SOMETHING POSITIVE, SOMETHING THAT WOULD SPARK MOMENTUM, THE NEXT PLAYER, THE SAME PLAYER, THE PLAY BEFORE, THERE WAS SOMETHING NEGATIVE THAT HAPPENED. >> Roy: BALL SPOTTED AT MIDFIELD. DERRICK DAVIS AT RUNNING BACK FOR PITT. CENSERE LEE PART OF THAT PACKAGE FEATURING RUNNING BACK, WIDE RECEIVER, OFFENSIVE PLAY CALLER. HOLSTEIN, GOOD DECISION AND A FIRST DOWN RUN. >> Sam: EARLIER ON SOME OF THE DESIGNED QUARTERBACK SNEAKS HE TRIED TO STAY UP, PROTECT YOUR BODY. I KNOW YOU'RE A BIG GUY, BUT SLIDE TO THE NEXT PLAY. >> Roy: OFFENSE STARTING TO CLICK ON THIS POSSESSION. STILL A LOT OF TIME LEFT FOR A TEAM THAT LIKES TO GO FAST. HOLSTEIN WILL TAKE OFF AGAIN. PLENTY OF REAL ESTATE IN FRONT OF HIM. HAD TO GET TO THE 29 TO SECURE THE FIRST DOWN. HE IS THERE. INTERESTING. ELI HOLSTEIN ON THE GROUND ON THIS POSSESSION SEEMS TO HAVE FOUND SOMETHING ALONG WITH HIS OFFENSIVE PLAY CALLER, KADE BELL. FAKE IT TO DAVIS. CENSERE LEE. >> Sam: THAT'S THE DOWN SIDE OF A THREE-MAN RUSH, THIS 3-3-5 HAS IT. IF YOU HAVE THREE MEN RUSHING, THAT'S ONE LESS PERSON TO GET TO THE QUARTERBACK. >> Roy: KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF THE RED ZONE. THREE MINUTES REMAINING IN THE THIRD. HOLSTEIN AGAIN. THE PUMP FAKE. FLOATS IT. DAVIS INCOMPLETE. INTENDED FOR DERRICK DAVIS. DERRICK CANTEEN IN COVERAGE. >> Sam: THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE SAYS, QUARTERBACK, WE'LL PUT FIVE PEOPLE IN COVERAGE AND FORCE YOU TO BE ACCURATE. WE'LL ONLY RUSH THREE. LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN FIND AN OPEN SPACE IN OUR ZONE DEFENSE. SOMETIMES IT'S MAN, PRIMARILY IT'S ZONE. HOLSTEIN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE OPEN SPACE. PLAYS LIKE THAT BY CANTEEN ARE THE REASON WHY. >> Roy: JOHNSON WILL TAKE THE DIRECT SNAP. SHOVING BLOCKERS OUT OF HIS PATH. THAT'S A FIRST DOWN. DINGLE STOPPED HIM AFTER A GAIN OF FOUR. THE PANTHERS NOW IN THE RED ZONE FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT'S BEEN A WHILE. 55 POINTS A WEEK AGO AGAINST KENT STATE, AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY SO FAR TODAY. HOLSTEIN AGAIN ON THE MOVE. NEARLY INTERCEPTED. PENALTY MARKER COMES IN AS WELL. PHILLIPS, THE HARD HIT ON THE PITT QUARTERBACK. DERRICK CANTEEN SWATTED THAT ONE AWAY. >> Sam: HE KNOWS SHE HAVE INTERCEPTED IT. THAT'S WHY HE'S A LITTLE BIT MAD AT HIMSELF. >> Referee: PERSONAL FOUL, ROUGHING THE PASSER, WITH TARGETING. DEFENSE, NUMBER 91. PENALTY IS HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE GOAL. AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN. THE TARGETING IS UNDER FURTHER REVIEW. >> Roy: THE FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR, ERIC PHILLIPS. >> Sam: ERIC PHILLIPS IS THE LEADER OF THIS DEFENSE. WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT WITH TARGETING, USING THE CROWN OF YOUR HELMET, SIX INCHES FROM THE TOP OF YOUR HELMET, GOING DOWN AND ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THIS PLAY, PHILLIPS GOES A LITTLE BIT HIGH, BUT THE HELMET DOESN'T SEEM TO BE LOWERED. >> Roy: THE LAUNCH, YOU'RE LOOKING TOWARDS THE HEAD OR NECK AREA. I AGREE WITH YOU, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS IF THE CROWN WAS A FACTOR AGAINST HOLSTEIN. AFTER GETTING RID OF THE FOOTBALL, DEFENSELESS PLAYER IN THAT MOMENT. THE CALL ON THE FIELD OF TARGETING CRITICAL HERE AND FOR ERIC PHILLIPS, KEY COG IN THE 3-3-5 FOR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, TYSON VEIDT. LOOKING FOR THAT FORCIBLE CONTACT TO THE HEAD OR NECK AREA. >> Sam: I DON'T SEE THAT, BUT WHAT I DID HEAR FROM THE REFEREE IS THEY CALLED ROUGHING THE PASSER WITH TARGETING. EVEN IF THE TARGETING ISN'T APPLIED, THE ROUGHING THE PASS PENALTY WILL BE. >> Roy: THE QUESTION IS IS ERIC PHILLIPS STILL IN THIS FOOTBALL GAME OR IS HE DISQUALIFIED? OUR REPLAY OFFICIAL. >> Referee: AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, THERE IS NO FOUL FOR TARGETING, NUMBER 97 MAY REMAIN IN THE GAME. THE ROUGHING THE PASSER PENALTY WILL STILL BE ENFORCED. HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE GOAL. AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN. >> Roy: FACE MASK WENT UP, CERTAINLY IN POSITION TO AVOID THE TARGETING CALL, AT LEAST TO BEGIN THERE, AS YOU GO THROUGH THE CHECKLIST, FORCIBLE CONTACT, DEFENSELESS PLAYER, CROWN OF THE HELMET. PERSONAL FOUL PENALTY OF ROUGHING THE PASSER REMAINS. FIRST AND GOAL FROM INSIDE THE TEN. THIS IS THE AREA THAT THE PITT OFFENSE EXPLAINED TO US THAT THEY REP IN PRACTICE CONSIDERABLY. THEIR GOAL IS TO GET AS MANY FIRST DOWNS AND POINTS AS THEY CAN. THE RED ZONE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY SPECIALIZE IN THESE MOMENTS WITH THIS NEW PRO-TEMPO OFFENSE UNDER KADE BELL. HOLSTEIN WILL BUY A LITTLE TIME. DANCING AROUND IN THE POCKET. SURVEYS THE FIELD. AND FROM BEHIND, HE'S DRIVEN DOWN. AFTER COVERAGE SACK THAT GIVES JONATHAN THOMPSON THE TFL, A LOSS OF NINE. THE CINCINNATI SECONDARY UP TO THE CHALLENGE. >> Sam: AS IS JONATHAN THOMPSON. HE'S PLAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEFENSE. SPYING THE QUARTERBACK. THREE-MAN RUSH, HE GETS TO BE FOURTH RUSHER. HE MISSES IT, BUT ELI HOLSTEIN HAS TO KNOW THAT GUY THAT JUST WENT BY YOU, HE MAY BE STANDING UP TO TRY TO GET YOU. GREAT JOB BY THOMPSON. NEED MORE AWARENESS FROM HOLSTEIN. >> Roy: ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK. SECOND AND GOAL. ALL THE WAY BACK AT THE 17. HOLSTEIN HAS SOME REAL ESTATE. MAKES ONE DEFENDER MISS. MAKE IT TWO. DROPPED HARD AT THE 12. FIVE-YARD GAIN ON SECOND AND GOAL FROM THE 17. NOW THIRD AND GOAL. YOU WONDER IF THIS IS FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY. >> Sam: IT VERY WELL MIGHT BE. YOU'RE DOWN BY THREE SCORES. YOU HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OFFENSE. DEFENSE NOT PLAYING WELL. THEY SAY THEY WORK ON IT 40 MINUTES EVERY SINGLE WEDNESDAY, NEARLY HALF OF THEIR PRACTICE. YOU NEED POINTS HERE, AND NOT JUST THREE. >> Roy: DESMOND REID ON THE FIELD. BARTHOLOMEW WENT IN MOTION. HOLSTEIN LOOKING HIS WAY. NOW THE OTHER. OUT IN THE FLATS. PASS IS CAUGHT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. IT'S MUMPFIELD. KONATA MUMPFIELD, SECOND SCORE OF THIS SEASON. THE AKRON TRANSFER HAS PITT IN POSITION. >> Sam: KONATA MUMPFIELD WAS VOTED CAPTAIN BY THIS TEAM. THERE'S EIGHT-MAN COVERAGE. YOU NEED TIME. HE GOES OUTSIDE. COMES BACK INSIDE. NOTHING IS THERE. GOES BACK OUTSIDE. HE HAS THE TIME AND SPACE TO OUTDO AND OUT-LEVERAGE KALEN CARROLL, THE DEFENSIVE BACK. >> Roy: 75 YARDS IN TEN PLAYS, THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THIS GAME FOR PITT. BEN SAULS ON THE FIELD. CONNECTS WITH THE EXTRA POINT. A TWO-SCORE GAME AND A FULL QUARTER AND CHANGE REMAINING. PLENTY OF TIME IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THE PANTHERS. >> Sam: WHAT CINCINNATI WILL WANT TO DO IS RUN OFF SOME OF THAT TIME. EARLY IN THE GAME THEY WERE EFFECTIVE IN THE RUN GAME. THEY THREW SOME DEEP SHOTS. THE RUN GAME IS WHAT WORKED. WHEN PITT JUST WENT AND SCORED, IF YOU'RE CINCINNATI, YOU'RE SAYING I NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT RUN GAME. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP COREY KINER OR SLOW DOWN THE OFFENSIVE LINE. LET'S GET BACK TO THAT OUTSIDE ZONE. PITT WILL SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT THEY'LL DO. THEY'LL TRY TO RUN THE BALL. ONE OF OUR EDGE DEFENDERS HAS TO CHASE DOWN THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE AND MAKE A STOP TO GET INTO SECOND AND 12 RATHER THAN SECOND AND 4 OR 5. >> Roy: THE U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH IS HEADED YOUR WAY TODAY AT 4:00 P.M. ON ESPN. JESS PAGULA TAKEPAGULA, THE AME. THAT'S AT 4:00 P.M. EASTERN ON ESPN. BRAND-NEW BALL GAME. YOU CAN FEEL IT FROM OUR BROADCAST POSITION. THIS CROWD GETTING ANTSY. PANTHERS SHOWING US SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THAT LAST POSSESSION. THE NEXT QUESTION IS HOW CAN THE PITT DEFENSE SLOW DOWN BRENDAN SORSBY. WILSON ENDED UP CROSSING THE 20. DRIVEN DOWN. >> TEXAS IS POURING IT ON IN ANN HARBOR. >> Roy: LONGHORNS POURING IT ON. BACK HERE WITH THE BEARCATS AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS POSSIBLE TODAY. TO SEE IT HAPPEN AGAINST THE DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS IS SOMETHING ELSE. >> Sam: MICHIGAN LOST A LOT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THAT GAME. >> Roy: BIG HOUSE IS QUIET FOR THE MOMENT. PANTHERS SENSING SOMETHING DEFENSIVELY. BRAYLAN LOVELACE BRINGS DOWN KINER. >> Sam: PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE FOURTH QUARTER AS THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO WIND DOWN. LOOKS LIKE THEY'LL LET THE CLOCK GO TO THE FOURTH QUARTER. THAT'S WHAT ALL THE OFF-SEASON CONDITIONING, THE WEIGHT ROOM WORK AND THE MENTAL FORTITUDE MATTERS. IF YOU CAN GET SOME MOMENTUM IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GOES FROM A TWO-SCORE GAME TO A ONE-SCORE GAME AND >> Taylor: WE'RE BACK INSIDE NIPPERT STADIUM. CINCINNATI WITH THE 27-13 LEAD. COACH SATTERFIELD, HOW HAS YOUR OFFENSE FOUND SUCCESS AGAINST PITT'S PRESSURE? >> THERE'S A TON OF PRESSURE ALL GAME LONG. KINER IS RUNNING HARD. >> Taylor: HOW DO YOU CLOSE IT OUT? >> THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF MOVING THE FOOTBALL. WE HAVE TO SCORE TOUCHDOWNS IN THE FOURTH. >> Taylor: THANKS FOR THE TALK. >> THANK YOU. >> Reporter: SECOND DOWN AND TEN TO OPEN THE FOURTH QUARTER. COREY KINER DRAGGED DOWN. ALREADY OVER 100 YARDS RUSHING. NOW WITH 18 CARRIES, 26 MORE ADDED TO THE TALLEY. HE'S APPROACHING 130 ON THE GROUND TODAY. >> Sam: THAT WAS A GREAT BLOCK BY DARTANYAN TINSLEY. YOU SEE HIM, HE HOLDS THE INSIDE AND ALLOWS KINER TO GET THROUGH THAT HOLE. THAT WAS WIDE OPEN. NOTHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF GREAT BLOCKING BY TINSLEY UP FRONT. >> Roy: THIRD RUN OF 25 YARDS OR LONGER TODAY. KINER NOW AT 132. THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING THE REVERSE. THEY SOMEHOW GOT IT BACK TO SORSBY. LOOKING FOR ROYER. THAT PASS OUT OF BOUNDS. JIMMY SCOTT TRIED TO BLOW THAT WHOLE PLAY UP AND NEARLY DID. A COMPLICATED SECOND AND TEN. >> Sam: THEY WENT OVER THIS PLAY IN PRACTICE. THEY DID IT A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE 40-YARD LINE. BUT THEY WOULD HAND IT OFF, PITCH IT, THROW IT BACK TO THE QUARTERBACK. THEY RAN IT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE. JIMMY SCOTT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE BLEW UP THE PLAY. HEADS-UP PLAY BY SORSBY OF GETTING IT OFF BEFORE TAKING A SACK. >> Roy: SORSBY ON SECOND DOWN. THE BEARCATS MOVING AWAY FROM THE GROUND GAME HERE. TWO TOUCHDOWN LEAD, THE CLOCK POTENTIALLY YOUR FRIEND. THE BEARCATS WILL STOP IT TWICE ON CONSECUTIVE INCOME MINCOMPLE. >> Sam: IT'S THAT YOUR RUNNING GAME HAS BEEN SO EFFECTIVE. ALL YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS CONTINUE TO GET FIRST DOWNS. YOU CAN WIN ON THE GROUND. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN THROUGH THE AIR. GIVE IT TO KINER, HAND THE BALL OFF. LET THE CLOCK RUN, BLEED IT OUT. WIN THE GAME THAT WAY. THIRD DOWN, YOU HAVE TO PASS IT. >> Roy: TURNER LINES UP IN THE SLOT. PRYOR THE RUNNING BACK. HERE'S THE SCREEN. IT'S INCOMPLETE. TURNER, RIGHT THROUGH THE MITTS. WOULD HAVE BEEN A TALL TASK TO GET FIRST DOWN YARDAGE ON THAT PLAY. THREE STRIGHT INCOMPLETIONS. PITT WILL GET THE FOOTBALL BACK WITH AN ETERNITY LEFT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. >> Sam: AND WITH SOME MOMENTUM. THE MOMENTUM COMES FROM THE SCORE ON OFFENSE AND THE DEFENSE SAYING WE GOT A STOP. GO TO THE SIDELINE, TELL YOUR OFFENSE, WE'LL SCORE AGAIN. DES REID SCORED A TOUCHDOWN LAST WEEK. >> Roy: FIRST PUNT FOR THE BEARCATS SINCE THEIR FIRST POSSESSION OF THE GAME. REID WILL WATCH IT BOUNCE. NO RETURN. IT'S DOWN INSIDE THE 20 BY JONATHAN THOMPSON. A PUNT OF 35 AS WE LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS BROUGHT TO YOU BY VRBO. THE GEOGIA BULLDOGS DID A NUMBER A WEEK AGO AGAINST CLEMSON. A TWO TOUCHDOWN LEAD AGAINST TENNESSEE TECH. PENN STATE AND BOWLING GREEN RIGHT NOW IN A TUSSLE AT STATE COLLEGE. >> Sam: PENN STATE HAS A NEW OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR. THE OFFENSE HAS BEEN FINE, BUT THE DEFENSE IS STRUGGLING. MANNY DIAZ IS AT DUKE. THEIR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR. THEY HAVE TO WAKE UP ON THAT SIDE OF THE BALL. >> Roy: THE NEW OC FOR JAMES FRANKLIN, PUTTING MORE POINTS ON THE BOARD AGAINST BOWLING GREEN. HOLSTEIN BACK ON THE FIELD. ON THE GROUND, MAKING SOMETHING HAPPEN WITH HIS LEGS. STOPPED AT THE 25. A FIVE-YARD GAIN. BRIAN SIMMS III THE TACKLE. IT'S INTERESTING, HOLSTEIN WITHOUT ANY DOWNFIELD TARGETS AVAILABLE, HIS OC, KADE BELL, CALLING THE PLAYS, HE'S HAD TO USE HIS LEGS MORE THIS WEEK. HOW ABOUT THAT CUT BY REID. FIRST DOWN CARRY. GALLOPS AHEAD TO THE 39. DES REID OVER 100 YARDS. GAIN OF 16. >> Sam: IF I'M PITT, I HURRY UP THE TEMPO. NOW YOU HURRY UP THE TEMPO AND KEEP THE DEFENSE OFF BALANCE. >> Roy: APPROACHING 13 MINUTES TO PLAY. REID. ANOTHER FIRST DOWN IN CINCINNATI TERRITORY. ON THE GROUND, THROUGH THE AIR, DES REID WILL GET A BREATHER. LOOK OUT, ACC. WHEN HE GETS GOING. PAT NARDUZZI TOLD US POUND FOR POUND HE'S THE TOUGHEST FOOTBALL PLAYER HE'S BEEN AROUND. EVEN IN PASS PRO. HOLSTEIN SENSING THE POCKET BREAKING DOWN. AGAIN DUMPS IT OFF TO THE TIGHT END, OVERMAN. THE FIRST TOUCH FOROVE OVERMAN. THIRD OF THE SEASON. >> Sam: GREAT PRESSURE BY DONTAY CORLEONE. NOW IS THE TIME WHEN YOU CHANGE THE TEMPO, CHANGE THE PACE. GO FAST, GO SLOW. YOU SUB, YOU SWITCH IT. THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED. >> Roy: SEVEN-MAN FRONT FOR THE BEARCATS. HOLSTEIN HAS TO HURRY. IN THE FLATS. OVERMAN STOPPED SHORT. HE WILL LOSE TWO. MILLER. >> Sam: BEAUTIFUL TACKLE BECAUSE IT WAS SECOND AND SHORT. NOW IT'S THIRD DOWN. THIRD DOWN IS MONEY DOWN. WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. THAT TACKLE IN THE OPEN FIELD CREATED A CRITICAL THIRD DOWN BY MILLER. GREAT JOB GETTING THE LEGS OF THE OFFENSIVE PLAYER. >> Roy: INSIDE GIVE. DERRICK DAVIS STOPPED BY CORLEONE. NO GAIN ON THE PLAY. FOURTH DOWN. THE. >> Sam: ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER. YOU SEE THE STOP BY MEHKI MILLER. WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE HAND PLACEMENT. HANDS ARE INSIDE. HE SHEDS THE BLOCKER AND MAKES THE TACKLE. >> Roy: PANTHERS 0 FOR 1 ON FOURTH DOWN. THEY'LL GO FOR IT HERE. TRAILING BY TWO TOUCHDOWNS. ANALYTICS TELL YOU TO GO. HOLSTEIN HAS A MAN WIDE OPEN! REELED IN BY MUMPFIELD! ON FOURTH DOWN, IT'S A TOUCHDOWN! A BIG-TIME MOMENT EARLY IN THIS SEASON FOR THE PITT PANTHERS. >> Sam: A BIG-TIME MOMENT FOR KONATA MUMPFIELD. THIS IS HIS SECOND TOUCHDOWN OF THE GAME. HE HAD TWO LAST YEAR FOR CINCINNATI. HE KNOWS HOW TO SCORE AGAINST THIS DEFENSE. >> Roy: ELI HOLSTEIN REMAINS ON THE FIELD. THE PANTHERS WILL GO FOR TWO. THE LATEST TREND IN THE NFL, NOW IN COLLEGE, TRAILING BY TWO TOUCHDOWNS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, YOU REACH THAT MOMENT WHERE YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO WIN BY GOING FOR TWO IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE. MORE ON THAT IN A MINUTE. CORLEONE TOOK HIS TIME TO GET OFF THE PLAYING SURFACE. A ONE-POSSESSION GAME. BACK OF THE END ZONE. INCOMPLETE! HOLSTEIN SOLD IT. KENNY JOHNSON COULD NOT CORRAL IT. IT REMAINS AN EIGHT-POINT AFFAIR. >> Sam: KONATA MUMPFIELD FOUND THE END ZONE AGAIN. THERE IS A BUSTED COVERAGE ON THE BACK EN D. >> Roy: TOUCHDOWN ON FOURTH AND TWO MOMENTS AGO MAKES IT A >> Sam: IF I'M PITT, YOU SCORED ON THE LAST TWO POSSESSIONS. YOU HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM, A LOT OF CONFIDENCE. EVEN THOUGH ANALYTICS MAY SO GO, I'M SAYING I TRUST MY OFFENSE, EVEN IF WE DON'T GET THIS TO GET ANOTHER SCORE AND ANOTHER TWO-POINT CONVERSION. >> Roy: THE PLAY WAS THERE. IT SIMPLY WASN'T EXECUTED. >> Sam: THE PLAY WAS OPEN. THE. >> Roy: CAL AND AUBURN WHEN WE'RE DONE AT NIPPERT. SECOND AND SIX. WILLIAMS. LASSOED DOWN. A ONE YARD GAIN. A VERY BIG PLAY COMING UP FOR BOTH SIDES. >> Sam: THIRD AND FOUR, USUALLY OFFENSES SAY THIRD AND SIX, WE HAVE OUR PLAYING WE LIKE TO RUN. AT THIRD AND FOUR, YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO RUN IT OR PASS IT. COREY KINER BACK IN THE GAME. THAT'S OPEN IF YOU WANT IT. >> Roy: I'M THINKING ABOUT NUMBER 11, AS AN ELITE BLOCKER, PASS CATCHER. THERE IS JOE ROYER. BACK TO THE AIR. SACKED! TOSSED DOWN AT THE 30! RASHEEM BILES! THE PANTHERS PRESSURE GETS A LOSS OF NINE. >> Sam: BIG PLAY BILES. 6'1" 215, SOPHOMORE OUT OF COLUMBUS, OHIO. COMES OFF THE EDGE UNBLOCKED. THAT'S WHAT THIS PITT DEFENSE THES. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PLAY HE MADE. HE MADE THREE HUGE STOPS IN THE FIRST HALF TO SLOW DOWN THE CINCINNATI RUN GAME. BILES IS SHOWING UP BIG. >> Roy: YOU THINK BACK TO HIS CAREER, THE BLOCKED KICKS. NOW THAT MONEY POSITION IN PAT NARDUZZI AND RANDY BATES DEFENSE. COMES UP CLUTCH. A BRILLIANT PUNT. IT WILL BE WHISTLED DEAD >> >> Roy: IT'S A NEW SEASON AND A NEW 12-TEAM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF. THE FIVE HIGHEST RANKED CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS GET THE AUTOMATIC BID. FOUR HIGHEST RANKED TITLE WINNERS RECEIVE FIRST ROUND BYES. SEVEN AT-LARGE TEAMS BY THE SELECTION COMMITTEE. WE HAVE PLAYOFFS BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 20th. SEEDS FIVE THROUGH EIGHT HOSTING FIRST-ROUND GAMES. WHAT A SIGHT THAT WILL BE. RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. BACK HERE AT NIPPERT. ONE-POSSESSION GAME. HALFWAY HOME IN THE FOURTH. HOLSTEIN BACK ON THE FIELD. FROM HIS OWN GOAL LINE. THE ON THE MOVE, A STRIKE DELIVERED RIGHT AT THE LINE TO GAIN. 11-YARD PICKUP BY GAVIN BARTHOLOMEW. GOOD START TO THIS DRIVE FOR THE PANTHERS WHO SCORED ON THE LAST TWO POSSESSIONS. >> Sam: THEY'RE FINDING THEIR CONFIDENCE, FINDING THEIR GROOVE LATER THAN THEY WANTED TO. >> Roy: HANDOFF TO REID. A FULL HEAD OF STEAM. TRIPPED UP. HE KNEW HE COULD SMELL THE END ZONE FROM SOME 75 YARDS AWAY. A SHOESTRING TACKLE BY JACK DINGLE. SECOND AND THREE. REID IS A BIG PLAY WAITING TO HAPPEN. CROSSING ROUTE IS THERE. THAT IS ENOUGH FOR A FIRST DOWN. CENSERE LEE, SECOND CATCH. FIELD OF TEMPO OF KADE BELL'S OFFENSE STARTING TO TAKE OVER. IN THE BACKFIELD, DONTAY CORLEONE. HE'S IMPACTED THIS GAME IN A NUMBER OF WAYS TODAY, ESPECIALLY TRYING TO STUFF THAT RUN GAME. >> Sam: HE'S STARTED FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE DEFENSE, HE'S SLID OR SHUFFLED ALL THE WAY OUTSIDE AND CAME BACK INSIDE. SEE HIM GO AROUND? THAT'S A PASS RUSH GAME OR RUN-STOPPING GAME, IT'S HARD TO BE 320 AND MOVE LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHAT IMPRESSES ME ABOUT HIM THE MOST. >> Roy: FIVE STOPS FOR NUMBER 2 IN RED AND WHITE. HOLSTEIN. DELIVERS ANOTHER PASS ON TARGET. BOBBY WILLIAMS. 14 MORE. HOW DID HE HOLD ON TO THAT ONE? >> Sam: CONCENTRATION, CONFIDENCE, TOUGHNESS BY RAPHAEL WILLIAMS. RIGHT HERE, HE ACCEPTS THE CONTACT. KNOWS IT'S COMING. HOLDS ON TO THE FOOTBALL. THOSE PLAYS BUILD CONFIDENCE FOR THE REST OF YOUR TIME. >> Roy: JORDAN YOUNG LOWERED THE SHOULDER AND THE BOOM. GOT RIGHT BACK UP. CORLEONE WENT DOWN WITH AN INJURY FOR A MOMENT. SECOND TIME TODAY WE SAW THAT. REMEMBER, THE BIG PLAY AT THE END OF THE HALF THAT GAVE PITTSBURGH ENOUGH TIME TO GET THAT 53-YARD FIELD GOAL AWAY. >> Sam: WITHOUT CORLEONE ON THE FIELD, THIS PITT OFFENSE MAY HAVE MORE TIME. THE DEFENSE IS KNOWN FOR A BEND BUT DON'T BREAK DEFENSE, WE'VE SEEN THEM BUST A COUPLE OF COVERAGES. THEY'RE BUSTING A FEW ASSIGNMENTS ON DEFENSE. >> Roy: BURNS STEPS IN TO REPLACE CORLEONE. PLAY ACTION FOR HOLSTEIN. INCOMPLETE TO THE TIGHT END, BARTHOLOMEW. YOU CAN FEEL THAT PRESSURE COMING FROM RIGHT BEHIND HIM. HE GOT RID OF IT JUST AT THE RIGHT POINT IN TIME. >> Sam: ELI HOLSTEIN AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME, SIX MINUTES LEFT, DOWN BY A SCORE. DON'T BE AFRAID TO USE YOUR LEGS. YOU USED THEM EARLIER IN THIS SERIES AND THIS GAME. GET BACK TO USING YOUR LEGS IF THEY ONLY BRING IN THREE. >> Roy: SETTLED IN NICELY IN THE SECOND HALF. TIME, ACROSS THE MIDDLE. THERE GOES REID! ONE MAN TO BEAT. HE REACHES THE END ZONE! A 56-YARD SCORING STRIKE. HELLO, DES REID. THE TWO-POINT CONVERSION COMING AFTER THE 93-YARD DRIVE IN JUST OVER TWO MINUTES. >> Sam: EVERY TIME DES REID TOUCHES THE BALL, EXPECT A BIG PLAY TO HAPPEN. HE DID IT LAST WEEK IN THE FIRST GAME. HE DID IT LAST YEAR AT WESTERN CAROLINA. NOW COMES THAT TWO-POINT CONVERSION. THE ANALYTICS MATTER MUCH MORE NOW AFTER YOU MISSED THE LAST ONE. >> Roy: CROWD ON ITS FEET. A CHANCE TO TIE IT FOR PITT. HOLSTEIN. BACKSIDE PRESSURE! I DON'T THINK SO. PHILLIPS. 27-25, PHILLIPS GOES DOWN AFTER MAKING THE PLAY OF THIS GAME. >> Sam: ERIC PHILLIPS IS THE UNQUESTIONED LEADER OF THIS DEFENSE. THIS COACH TALKED ABOUT GIVING HIM THE FREEDOM AND FREE REIN TO CALL PLAYS FOR THE DEFENSE. HE'S GETTING UP NOW. WALKING OFF THE FIELD. HE'S A BIG PLAY MACHINE. HERE'S DES REID ON THE OTHER SIDE. GETS THE BALL, FINDS THE END ZONE. BECAUSE OF HIS SPEED, >> Roy: PITT SCORED ON THREE CONSECUTIVE DRIVES, ALL ENDS IN TOUCHDOWNS. TRAILING NOW BY TWO. THE DES REID SHOW IN FULL FORCE. ABOUT 239 YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE 22 TOUCHES OVERALL, 17 ON THE GROUND. FIVE THROUGH THE AIR. TWO-POINT CONVERSION NO GOOD THANKS TO ERIC PHILLIPS. BEARCATS GET IT AT THEIR 25. WE CHECK IN WITH KC. >> GREAT GAMES GOING ON INCLUDING IN STILLWATER. 21 UNANSWERED. THIS IS BRENDAN PRESLEY. >> THEY WERE TRAILING BY TWO TOUCHDOWNS AT HALFTIME. IN THE FOURTH QUARTER THEY CAME BACK. >> 28-21 ON ESPN. K-STATE, THE SCOOP AND SCORE. >> THE DEFENSES NEEDED TO COME UP BECAUSE THE KANSAS STATE OFFENSE HAS NOT BEEN PLAYING WELL. THE DEFENSE COULD NOT STOP THE QUARTERBACK. THIS PLAY WAS CRITICAL. >> 34-27. THE WILDCATS ON TOP. ROY? >> Roy: WELL, THE CATS, THE POKES, AND THE PANTHERS ALL RALLYING IN THIS EARLY WINDOW. COREY KINER, THE FIRST TOUCH. ALL-IMPORTANT DRIVE FOR CINCINNATI. AN EIGHT-YARD GAIN. PHILLIP O'BRIEN THE TACKLE. 19 UNANSWERED SCORED BY PITT TO GET BACK IN IT. AT ONE POINT THEY TRAILED 27-6 TODAY. >> Sam: THE SIMPLE FORMULA FOR CINCINNATI IS FEED COREY KINER. THERE'S NO OTHER ANSWER, NO OTHER SOLUTION NEEDED. GIVE HIM THE ROCK. LAST SERIES, TRIED TO PASS THE BALL. DIDN'T NEED TO DO THAT. THE SERIES BEFORE, THREW SOME PASSES. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STORE COREY KINER YET. IF YOU'RE CINCINNATI AND YOU WANT TO WIN, FEED THE BEAST. >> Roy: 19 TOUCHES, 140 YARDS FOR THE LSU TRANSFER AND CINCINNATI NATIVE. COREY KINER. FAKES IT TO HIM. OUT IN THE FLATS, JAMOI MAYES. THE TOUCHDOWN CATCH TO GET THE SCORING STARTED WAY BACK IN THE FIRST QUARTER. LYNUM BROUGHT HIM DOWN. A 12-YARD PICK UP AND A FIRST DOWN. THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO TICK. >> Sam: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT CLOCK CONTINUING TO TICK. NO NEED TO RUSH OR BE TOO FAST. SLOW YOUR PACE DOWN, SLOW YOUR TEMPO DOWN, LEAN ON THE RUN GAME. >> Roy: SORSBY, KINER, HENDERSON CREATING THE BIG PLAYS FOR SCOTT SATTERFIELD'S OFFENSE. KINER NOW, 13 YARDS SHY OF A NEW CAREER HIGH RUSHING YARDS IN A SINGLE GAME. CUTS IT BACK. AGAINST THE GRAIN, INTO PLUS TERRITORY. A NINE-YARD GAIN. >> Sam: YOU KNOW HOW WHEN YOU PLAY SOMEBODY, A CERTAIN TEAM, YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GOOD MATCH-UP. THAT'S WHAT COREY KINER FEELS EVERY TIME HE PLAYS PITT. LAST YEAR, HE A CAREER HIGH AGAINST PITT. RIGHT NOW, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF ANOTHER CAREER HIGH. HE KNOWS THEY LOVE TO RUSH UP THE FIELD. HE SAYS Y'ALL ARE GOING TO RUSH UP THE FIELD, I'LL CUT AROUND YOU AND MAKE BIG PLAYS. >> Roy: THESE TWO TEAMS ONCE RIVALS IN THE OLD BIG EAST CONFERENCE. GAME LAST YEAR UP IN PITTSBURGH, KIND OF A SIMILAR FEEL. CINCINNATI GOT OUT IN FRONT BIG EARLY. PITTSBURGH RALLIED LATE. THEY FELL SHORT IN THE COMEBACK ATTEMPT. NOW IT'S THIRD DOWN. THE TFL, NATE MATLACK AND KYLE LEWIS COMBINE TO MAKE THE STOP. A LOSS OF A COUPLE OF YARDS HERE. THIRD DOWN AND THREE. THE PLAY OF THIS GAME COMING RIGHT NOW. >> Sam: IF I'M CINCINNATI, I'M CIRCLING JOE ROYER. I HAVE TO GET HIM THE BALL. HE'S ONE OF MY MOST TRUSTED RECEIVERS, TIGHT ENDS. IF I'M NOT RUNNING IT, I'M GIVING IT TO JOE. >> Roy: TENSION IN NIPPERT. BEARCATS 1 FOR THE LAST 8 ON THIRD DOWN. MAKE IT 1 FOR 9. THE PRESSURE GOT HOME. IT WAS BRANDON GEORGE LAID OUT BRENDAN SORSBY. THE PANTHERS WILL GET THE FOOTBALL BACK WITH ALL THREE TIME-OUTS. THE TWO-MINUTE TIME-OUT, AND PAT NARDUZZI LOVING LIFE RIGHT NOW WITH A CHANCE TO STEAL ONE ON THE ROAD. >> Sam: GEORGE MADE ANOTHER PLAY ON THIS SERIES. HE HAD THE CRITICAL PRESSURE HERE A FEW SERIES AGO, HE HAD THE BIG-TIME TACKLE. GEORGE IN THE MIDDLE. HE DOESN'T GET BLOCKED. HE FORCES A QUICK THROW, NOW KONATA MUMPFIELD IS GETTING READY TO RETURN THE PUNT. HE MUFFED ONE LAST WEEK. EXPECT THIS TO BE CALLED A PLUS 50 PUNT, MAY NOT BE A BIG RETURN. I'M WATCHING HIM AS HE CATCHES THIS ONE OR LETS IT BOUNCE. >> Roy: MASON FLETCHER WILL TAKE HIS TIME. INTO THE END ZONE FOR THE TOUCHBACK. >> Sam: YOU TALK ABOUT THE HIDDEN YARDAGE, WE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL GAME LONG. THAT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A LAZY PLAY BY JOSH MINKINS. YOU THINK MUMPFIELD WILL FAIR CATCH. LET THE OTHER GUYS TACKLE MUMPFIELD. YOU RUN TO THE END LINE, THE GOAL LINE, BE THERE WHEN THE BALL GETS THERE. THAT WASN'T MINKINS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ORMANIE ARNOLD. THAT'S A PLAY WHEN YOU'RE A GUNNER, YOU RUN STRAIGHT TO THE END ZONE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PLUS 50 TERRITORY. LET THE INTERIOR STOP THE RETURNER. YOU GO TO THE END LINE. >> Roy: HOLSTEIN HEATED UP IN THE SECOND HALF. THREE TOUCHDOWN PASSES. DES REID, SWALLOWED UP AND DRIVEN DOWN BY BARTLETT. >> Sam: AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO GO FAST, THERE'S NO NEED TO RUSH. YOU HAVE A TIME-OUT, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN THREE TIME-OUTS. JUST SLOW DOWN IN THIS SITUATION. >> Roy: HOLSTEIN WILL TAKE WHAT THE DEFENSE GAVE HIM. DES REID TO THE 25. ERIC PHILLIPS, THE TACKLE. THAT BRINGS US TO THE TWO-MINUTE TIME-OUT. >>> BACK AND FORTH THEY GO IN STILLWATER. THIS IS GREEN TO LUKE HAWES FOR THE TIE. >> THIS IS A THREE-PLAY 75-YARD DRIVE. 74 OF THEM WERE TWO BIG PASS PLAYS. >> 28-28 THE SCORE ON ABC. BACK TO ROY AND SAM. >> Roy: THANK YOU. HERE AT NIPPERT STADIUM, THIRD DOWN, FOUR TO GO IN A TWO-POINT GAME, TWO MINUTES REMAINING. PANTHERS ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL. DAVIS STRAIGHT AHEAD. NOWHERE CLOSE. BARTLETT, THE WEST VIRGINIA TRANSFER, THE SUPER SENIOR WORKING HIS BUTT OFF IN PRESEASON CAMP. RIGHT THERE AS WELL. >> Sam: WHERE IS DES REID? THAT'S MY QUESTION. HE'S BEEN YOUR KEY GUY FOR THIS ENTIRE SECOND HALF. HE'S NOT OUT THERE? >> Roy: PANTHERS WITH ALL THREE TIME-OUTS REMAINING. THEY'LL GO FOR IT ON FOURTH AND FOUR. IT COMES DOWN TO THIS. PENALTY MARKER FLIES IN. THIS COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CALL. EARLY INDICATION POTENTIALLY AGAINST THE BEARCATS. >> Referee: DELAY OF GAME, DEFENSE, NUMBER 16. FIVE-YARD PENALTY, RESULTS IN A FIRST DOWN. >> Sam: THIS HAS BEEN A POINT OF EMPHASES FOR THE REFEREES ON DEFENSES SAYING MOVE. >> Referee: THAT PENALTY QUALIFIES FOR A TEN-SECOND RUNOFF, WHICH PITT HAS DECLINED. THE CLOCK WILL START ON THE SNAP. >> Sam: HAVING AN ABRUPT MOVEMENT TO CAUSE THE OFFENSE TO MOVE. THE POINT OF EMPHASES IS BEING EMPHASIZED. >> Roy: FIRST DOWN AFTER THE PENALTY YARDAGE WAS MARKED OFF. HOLSTEIN AGAIN ON THE GROUND. CROSSING THE 35. SEVEN-YARD GAIN. THE PANTHERS UTILIZE A TIME-OUT WITH TWO REMAINING. >> Sam: PAT NARDUZZI LOVES THESE SITUATIONS. WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? TWO-MINUTE SITUATIONS. THE REASON WHY HE LOVES THESE SITUATIONS, HE LOVES TO WORK ON HIS BLITZ PACKAGE. KADE BELL, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR GETS TO WORK ON HIS OFFENSE IN TWO MINUTES. THAT'S IN THE FIRST HALF OR SECOND HALF. >> Referee: DURING THE PLAY, A DEFENSIVE PLAYER CAME OFF. THAT QUALIFIES FOR A TEN-SECOND RUNOFF, WHICH PITT HAS DECLINED. >> Taylor: KADE BELL SAID THEY PRACTICED TWO-MINUTE EVERY DAY SO HIS PLAYERS COULD GO INTO THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH CONFIDENCE. >> Sam: YOU PRACTICE TWO MINUTES, YOU PUT A FOCUS ON IT, USUALLY MOST GAMES COME DOWN TO THE LAST TWO MINUTES OF THE GAME. MORE REPS IN PRACTICE COULD EQUAL SUCCESS. >> Roy: PANTHERS WITH TWO TIME-OUTS REMAINING. DES REID, PING-PONGS OFF OF ONE DEFENDER. PICKS UP THE FIRST DOWN. A GAIN OF NINE. >> Sam: GREAT BLOCK BY RYAN BAER ON THAT SIDE. LOOKS LIKE REID IS LIMPING A BIT. >> Roy: OVER A MINUTE TO GO. PLAY ACTION, HOLSTEIN. HEAVES ONE DEEP DOWN THE FIELD-IT'S BROUGHT IN FOR A FIRST DOWN AND A LOT MORE. MUMPFIELD SNUCK BEHIND THE DEFENSE. >> Sam: BEND BUT DON'T BREAK BUT ALSO DON'T BREAK DOWN THE DEFENSE. THAT TIME, THREE SECONDS, FOUR SECONDS, FIVE SECONDS, IT'S ALLOWING MUMPFIELD TO BE WIDE OPEN. HE LED THE TEAM IN RECEPTIONS LAST YEAR. THIS IS NOT MUMPFIELD. THIS IS BREAKDOWN IN COVERAGE BY YOUNG DEFENDERS ON THE BACK END. >> Roy: A GAIN OF 34. JUST LIKE THAT, PITT IS IN FIELD GOAL RANGE. THE VETERAN, BEN SAULS, THE FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR, TIP CITY, OHIO NATIVE, LOCATED 60 MILES NORTH OF WHERE WE ARE AT NIPPERT. DAVIS INSIDE THE 15, TO THE 13. JACK DINGLE BROUGHT HIM DOWN. CLOCK AT 40 SECONDS AND TICKING. BEARCATS WITH TWO TIME-OUTS. YOU WONDER IF AT SOME POINT THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE THOSE. MOVEMENT. NO PENALTY MARKER YET. ELI HOLSTEIN FELL DOWN. CORLEONE WAS CHASING HIM AROUND. THAT WILL BE A LOSS OF SIX. >> Referee: TIME-OUT, PITT. THEIR SECOND. >> Roy: I BELIEVE HOLSTEIN THOUGHT CINCINNATI JUMPED ACROSS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. >> Sam: HE FELT THAT SHOULD BE A FREE PLAY. THERE'S THE POTENTIAL THEY DIDN'T CROSS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE A SLIGHT MOVEMENT, YOU DON'T CROSS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THIS SITUATION. HOLSTEIN BELIEVES HE HAS A FREE PLAY. HE DOESN'T. >> Roy: FIRST DOWN AND TEN COMING UP. PITT DOWN TO ITS FINAL TIME-OUT. BEARCATS WITH TWO REMAINING. REMEMBER, BEN SAULS CONNECTED FROM 53 YARDS OUT TO END THE FIRST HALF TO GIVE PITT A LITTLE BIT OF MOMENTUM INTO HALFTIME. THAT'S CARRIED OVER INTO THE SECOND HALF. NUMBER 90, IT COULD ALL COME DOWN TO HIS RIGHT LEG. >> Sam: IF I'M THE OFFENSE. YOU HAVE A FIELD GOAL SECURE. YOU RUN THE BALL, GET THE BALL WHERE YOU WANT IT, MAYBE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. IF I'M DEFENSE AND THEY DECIDE TO PASS IT, YOU BRING PRESSURE TO EITHER KNOCK THEM OUT OF FIELD GOAL RANGE, OR MAKE IT THAT MUCH HARDER. OFFENSE, PLAY IT SAFE, RUN THE ROUTE. >> Roy: CONSERVATIVE CALL, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT. NEEDING JUST A FIELD GOAL TO TAKE THE LEAD. >> Referee: TIME-OUT, CINCINNATI. ARY SECOND. 30 SECONDS. >> Roy: BEARCATS WILL USE ONE OF THEIR TIME-OUTS. ON FOURTH DOWN, A FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT COMING FROM BEN SAULS. COMING UP NEXT ON ABC, SOUTH CAROLINA SQUARES OFF AGAINST KENTUCKY. THAT'S AT 3:30 EASTERN. LATER TONIGHT IN PRIME TIME AT 7:30 EASTERN, TENNESSEE AND N.C. STATE. YOU CAN WATCH THEM BOTH ON ESPN+. IT OFFICIALLY COMES DOWN TO THIS, BEN SAULS ON FOURTH AND EIGHT. COMING BACK TO HIS HOMESTATE. 2 FOR 2 TODAY, CONNECTING FROM 47 AND 53. THE LEFT-FOOTED KICKER GETTING SET FOR A 35-YARD EFFORT. SNAP IS HIGH. HOLD IT DOWN. KICK ON THE WAY. FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY, PITTSBURGH HAS THE LEAD AGAINST CINCINNATI. >> Sam: OH MY, HAVE THE TABLES TURNED. 22 UNANSWERED POINTS FOR PITT. THE REASON WHY THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE SO EFFECTIVE IS TWO-FOLD. NUMBER ONE, THEY DIDN'T ABANDON ELI HOLSTEIN. THEY DIDN'T MAKE A SWITCH IN THE FIRST HALF. NUMBER TWO, THEY GAVE THE BALL TO THEIR BEST PLAYER. GIVE THE BALL TO DES REID, EVERYTHING ELSE HAPPENS. >> Roy: COACH NARDUZZI WITH HIS TIGHT END, GAVIN BARTHOLOMEW. LOCKED IN ARMS. BEN SAULS KNEW IT. WHAT A FEELING THAT HAS TO BE. BEARCATS WITH A TIME-OUT REMAINING. 17 SECONDS LEFT. IT'S NOT OVER YET. SCOTT SATTERFIELD AND CINCINNATI'S SIDELINE IN DISBELIEF AFTER THE SCORING BARRAGE IN THE SECOND HALF BY PITT. WE'VE TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT THE HIDDEN YARDAGE. DESMOND REID 100 YARDS RUSHING AND 100 YARDS RECEIVING IN THE SAME GAME. SMALLEST PLAYER ON THE FIELD COMING UP HUGE. A TOUCHBACK GIVES US A MOMENT TO CHECK IN WITH KEVIN CONNORS. >> WE HAVE A DYNAMITE GAME COMING UP NEXT. THE JAYDN OTT WILL PLAY AGAINST AUBURN. THAT GAME COMING UP IN TWO MINUTES. BROCK VANDAGRIFF MAKING HIS SECOND CAREER START. THREE TOUCHDOWNS A WEEK AGO. WE HAVE SOUTH CAROLINA AND KENTUCKY, THE FIRST GAME OF THE S.E.C. SEASON, ROY, COMING UP ON ABC. >> Roy: CAN'T WAIT FOR IT. 17 SECONDS REMAINING HERE IN THE QUEEN CITY. CINCINNATI WITH A TIME-OUT TO WORK WITH. A LONG WAYS TO GO TO GET INTO FIELD GOAL RANGE FOR CARTER BROWN. DUMP OFF IS THERE. HARD HIT, OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 30. AARON TURNER WAS HIT HARD BY BATTLE. CLOCK STOPS WITH 12 SECONDS TO GO. >> Sam: TIME IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS HERE. 12 SECONDS LEFT, SHORT PASSES WON'T CUT IT. ATTACK THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, GET A FIRST DOWN, SPIKE IT. ATTACK THE OUTSIDE, GET OUT OF BOUNDS, OR USE ONE OF YOUR TIME-OUTS. >> Roy: PITTSBURGH PANTHERS ONCE TRAILED IN THIS GAME 27-6. BRENDAN SORSBY. BUYING SOME TIME, DIRECTING TRAFFIC, NEARLY FALLS DOWN. GOT TO GET RID OF IT. HE'S BROUGHT DOWN! NATE MATLACK. THE KANSAS STATE TRANSFER WITH ONE SECOND REMAINING. >> Referee: TIME-OUT, CINCINNATI. SORSBY. >> Sam: ONE THING YOU CAN'T DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS IS WASTE TIME. SORSBY, IF IT'S NOT THERE, THROW IT AWAY. TIME IS WASTED. ONE SECOND LEFT. THEY'LL CALL A TIME-OUT. USUALLY THIS IS WHEN THOSE HOOK AND LATERAL PLAYS START TO HAPPEN. GET A FORMATION, GET OUT TO THE RUNNING BACK, START PITCHING IT AROUND TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET TO THE END ZONE. >> Roy: THIRD DOWN, ONE SECOND TO GO FOR SCOTT SATTERFIELD'S TEAM. LOOK, HE'S HAD OPPORTUNITIES. THIS TEAM HAD CHANCES TO PUT PITT AWAY. YOU GO BACK TO THAT ONE SEQUENCE THREE STRAIGHT INCOMPLETIONS WITH A TWO-SCORE ADVANTAGE. TRICK PLAY. CLOCK STOPS RIGHT HERE AT THE START OF THE FOURTH QUARTER. SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN ALL PANTHERS. >> Referee: TIME-OUT, PITT. THEIR SECOND. 30 SECONDS. >> Roy: PAT NARDUZZI THIS WEEK, OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND HIS STAFF, THERE'S A LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT WITH THE ADDITION OF KADE BELL CALLING PLAYS ON OFFENSE. THE NEW PERSONNEL DEFENSIVELY TO MATCH WHAT THEY ARE KNOWN FOR, GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK, BRINGING THE QUARTERBACK DOWN, CREATING PRESSURE. THEY BRING SIX, THREE DEEP, TWO UNDERNEATH. IT'S A TRADEMARK. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT PITT IS BACK TO THAT NOW, BUT THIS WOULD BE A LARGE STATEMENT. ACC VERSUS BIG 12. FOR THE TURNAROUND OF THIS PROGRAM WITH THAT YOUNG MAN AS WELL, DES REID ON OFFENSE LEADING THE CHARGE. >> Sam: HUGE CONFIDENCE BOOST FOR THIS PITT TEAM IF THEY CAN FINISH THE GAME. YOU FACED EXTREME ADVERSITY EARLY IN THE GAME WITH A YOUNG QUARTERBACK. IF YOU CAN SAY, HEY, WE PLAYED OUR WORST BALL AND FOUND A WAY TO WIN, BUILDS YOUR CONFIDENCE. >> Roy: AFTER A CONSECUTIVE TIME-OUT, SORSBY. UNDERNEATH. HERE COMES THE LAT WALL BACK TO KINER. AND THAT WILL DO IT. THE COMEBACK COMPLETE. McINTYRE JUMPED ON THE LOOSE FOOTBALL TO SEAL THE WIN FOR PAT NARDUZZI AND THE PITT PANTHERS. 28-27 THE FINAL. PITT REMAINS UNDEFEATED. THE BEARCATS FALL TO 1-1. WHAT A GAME, WHAT A FOURTH QUARTER AS THE PANTHERS FIND A