The storied Battle for the Victory Bell between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Miami RedHawks delivered another thrilling chapter on Saturday, as Cincinnati secured a 27-16 win. This historic rivalry, the oldest non-conference matchup in college football, saw both teams fighting to gain the upper hand, but the Bearcats came out on top with a balanced effort in front of a sellout crowd of 24,717.
The RedHawks, led by quarterback Brett Gabbert, displayed flashes of brilliance, but untimely turnovers and missed opportunities allowed the Bearcats to take control and avenge last year’s overtime loss in the series. Cincinnati now holds a 61-60-7 lead in the all-time rivalry, reclaiming the Victory Bell and extending their winning streak at Miami’s Yager Stadium to seven games.
Miami’s Brett Gabbert showed his arm strength early and often, finishing the day with 339 passing yards. His highlight reel included a 58-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Virgil in the third quarter, a key moment that trimmed Cincinnati’s lead to 17-10 and gave the RedHawks a fighting chance. Gabbert’s performance marked his sixth career 300-yard passing game, and he spread the ball effectively, completing passes to six different receivers, including Cade McDonald, who racked up 135 yards on eight receptions.
Despite Gabbert’s impressive numbers, Cincinnati's defense proved to be the difference. The Bearcats held the RedHawks to just 24 rushing yards, with senior defensive end Eric Phillips recording a career-high two sacks. On top of that, the Bearcats' defensive backs, including redshirt junior Jordan Young, played a key role in disrupting Miami's passing attack, especially in the end zone where they forced a critical incompletion late in the game.
Cincinnati kicker Nathan Hawks was another standout performer. He opened the scoring with a booming 55-yard field goal and later added a 50-yard kick with just one minute left, sealing the win for the Bearcats. Hawks’ first career start as a kicker could not have gone better, as he became the first Cincinnati kicker to make two 50+ yard field goals in a single game. Head coach Scott Satterfield praised Hawks' poise and work ethic, emphasizing how Hawks stepped up when the team needed him most.
The first pivotal moment of the game came early in the second quarter when Miami’s Dom Dzioban nailed a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3. However, the momentum quickly shifted when a fumbled snap by Miami punter Alec Bevelhimer set up a short field for the Bearcats. Cincinnati capitalized on the turnover with a quick touchdown pass from quarterback Brendan Sorsby to Joe Royer, giving the Bearcats a 10-3 lead midway through the second quarter.
Cincinnati seemed poised to extend their lead even further just before halftime, marching 95 yards in 16 plays. But the Miami defense came up big, as Kobe Hilton forced a fumble at the goal line, preventing the Bearcats from punching it in and keeping the score within reach for the RedHawks.
Cincinnati opened the second half with a dominant 75-yard drive capped off by a one-yard rushing touchdown from Corey Kiner, pushing the lead to 17-3. While Miami responded with Gabbert’s 58-yard strike to Virgil to cut the deficit to seven, Cincinnati's Evan Pryor provided the knockout blow early in the fourth quarter. Pryor took off for a 65-yard touchdown run, extending the Bearcats’ lead to 24-10.
Gabbert continued to battle, leading a late 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a seven-yard touchdown pass to McDonald. However, the RedHawks’ attempt to close the gap further fell short when their two-point conversion try was stopped by Cincinnati’s defense. A 51-yard completion from Gabbert to McDonald put Miami in scoring range again with under five minutes left, but the Bearcats defense stood strong, forcing an incompletion on fourth down to end Miami’s hopes of a comeback.
Hawks’ 50-yard field goal with 59 seconds remaining added the final points of the day, solidifying Cincinnati’s 27-16 win.
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Bearcats improved to 2-1 on the season with the win, powered by balanced contributions from offense, defense, and special teams. Head coach Scott Satterfield was quick to praise the all-around team effort, calling it a "complete team win." Senior running back Corey Kiner was a force on the ground, rushing for 126 yards on 21 carries, marking his ninth career 100-yard game. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby was efficient, completing 21 of 34 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, Eric Phillips led the charge with two sacks, while the Bearcats secondary came up with key plays, including an end-zone pass breakup by Jordan Young that halted a critical Miami drive in the fourth quarter. Special teams were equally pivotal, with Nathan Hawks delivering two clutch field goals, including a 55-yarder that tied for the second-longest in Cincinnati’s program history.
Miami RedHawks
Despite the loss, Miami showed plenty of fight, particularly through the air. Brett Gabbert’s 339 passing yards were the highlight of the RedHawks’ day, and wide receiver Cade McDonald had a career game, posting 135 receiving yards and a touchdown. Reggie Virgil’s 58-yard touchdown catch was the longest of his career, and Silas Walters led the defense with a career-high 11 tackles.
The RedHawks struggled to establish a running game, managing just 24 rushing yards against Cincinnati’s stout defense. While the defense had key moments, including a forced fumble by Kobe Hilton at the goal line, Miami couldn’t contain Cincinnati’s explosive plays in the second half.
Cincinnati will return home to take on Houston next week at Nippert Stadium in their conference opener. The Bearcats are riding high after reclaiming the Victory Bell, and they’ll look to carry their momentum into American Athletic Conference play.
Meanwhile, Miami faces a tough road test against Notre Dame in South Bend, where they’ll try to bounce back from their 0-2 start. Gabbert and the RedHawks’ passing game have shown potential, but they’ll need a more balanced attack and fewer mistakes to have a chance against a formidable Fighting Irish team.
The 128th Battle for the Victory Bell was another thrilling chapter in college football’s oldest non-conference rivalry, and while Miami fought hard, Cincinnati’s complete team effort secured the win and the coveted Victory Bell. The Bearcats' defense, special teams, and timely offensive plays ensured that the bell would return to Cincinnati for another year.
