Cincinnati Bearcats lose Big 12 opener to Oklahoma Sooners | Replay

The University of Cincinnati's sun-splashed debut drew Fox Network television, 38,193 onlookers, but not many touchdowns. The Sooners defense kept UC under double digits and out of the end zone winning the league opener at Nippert Stadium, 20-6.

It was a season-low in points for both teams. The Bearcats missed out on 10 points as Emory Jones was picked off in the end zone. Earlier, Carter Brown missed a second-quarter field goal.

Dillon Gabriel was 26-for-38 for 322 yards and a touchdown. Michigan transfer Andrel Anthony caught seven passes for 117 yards.

For UC, Jones was 22-for-41 for 235 yards but with two interceptions. He was also UC's top rusher with 42 yards.

Oklahoma runs their record to 4-0 while the Bearcats drop to 2-2

The Bearcats last touchdown came with 4:09 remaining in the Miami University loss giving them a brief 24-21 lead. Miami would then score 10 straight points to win in overtime. They've now played over 64 minutes without a touchdown and haven't scored in their last 14 drives. On Saturday, they were just 3-for-15 in third-down conversions.

Minus Deshawn Pace, who was suspended for the game for violating team rules, and starting cornerback Sammy Anderson, the Bearcat defense kept Oklahoma substantially below their 55.7 points per game average, but couldn't answer on the other end.

UC's Brown kicked a pair of field goals, including a career-long 54-yarder, but missed one in between from 26 that would have got the Bearcats within 10-6 at halftime.

UC has a short week now as they are at BYU next Friday night for a 10:15 Eastern time kickoff.

Final: Oklahoma 20, Cincinnati 6

7:42 another UC drive ends with an interception | Oklahoma 20, Cincinnati 6

UC gets to the Oklahoma 40-yard line but on 4th and 2, Jones is intercepted by Billy Bowman after a couple of tips. On third downs, UC is now 3-for-14.

Oklahoma extends leads to 14 in fourth quarter over UC | Oklahoma 20, Cincinnati 6

Oklahoma's nine-play, 67-yard drive covers 4:33 but they're held to a 30-yard Zach Schmit field goal. 10:59 in remaining in the game. Oklahoma 6-for- 13 on third downs by my count. UC 2-for-12.

4th and 2 from Oklahoma 20, UC stopped. End of third quarter | Oklahoma 17, Cincinnati 6

With :36 to go in the third quarter, UC passes on 4th and 2 from the 20-yard line instead of trying another field goal. Incomplete. Oklahoma now driving and on UC 31-yard line to start the fourth. Oklahoma has outgained UC 380-279. UC after three quarters had outrushed Oklahoma but just 85 yards to 82.

Oklahoma with a quick drive to lead by 11 | Oklahoma 17, Cincinnati 6

The Sooners steamroll down the field in this latest drive lasting nine plays and covering 75 yards in 2:59. Gabriel is pushed in from the 1-yard line. Oklahoma is 3-for-4 in the red zone. There is 5:23 left in the third quarter.

Career-long field goal gets UC within four | Oklahoma 10, Cincinnati 6

Carter Brown amends for an earlier miss with a career-long 54-yard field goal with 8:22 left in the third quarter. The Bearcats trail Oklahoma 10-6. It was a 12-play 49-yard drive taking 4:32.

Halftime UC misses late opportunity | Oklahoma 10, Cincinnati 3

After stopping a late Oklahoma drive, UC drove to the Oklahoma 9-yard line. Carter Brown's 26-yard field goal attempt was no good. UC in the first half had a pass intercepted stopping a touchdown and now a missed field goal missing out on 10 possible points.

NUMBERS: Oklahoma has outgained UC 247-175. UC has outrushed Oklahoma 39-35 though neither team is running the ball well. Ryan Montgomery leads UC with 14 yards, Corey Kiner has 11. Marcus Major ran 19 yards on one play and leads the Sooners.

Emory Jones is 13-for-24 for 136 yards and was picked off in the end zone by Key Lawrence. Dillon Gabriel is 15-for-23 for 212 yards and a touchdown.

Jones intercepted spoiling drive | Oklahoma 10, Cincinnati 3

An eight-play 49-yard drive covering 3:38 is ruined when Emory Jones throws into double coverage in the end zone to Xzavier Henderson. Instead, Key Lawrence of Oklahoma gets the ball with 5:02 left in the half.

Oklahoma escapes, extends lead in second quarter | Oklahoma 10, Cincinnati 3

Zach Schmit with a 34-yard field goal caps off a 12-play 72-yard drive lasting 4:51. UC had the Sooners pinned in the student section end zone area inside the 5-yard line but Marcus Major ran for 19 yards and a first down. The Sooners also completed a 3rd and 9 play near midfield to extend the drive.

End first quarter UC trails | Oklahoma 7, Cincinnati 3

Oklahoma outgained UC 149-60. Bearcats outrushed Oklahoma 30-19. Emory Jones 3-7 for 30 yards. Dillon Gabriel 10-14 for 130 yards and a touchdown.

:34 first quarter, Oklahoma takes lead | Oklahoma 7, Cincinnati 3

Gabriel leads the Sooners on a six-play 66-yard drive in just 1:47 in hurry-up mode. Gabriel with a 5-yard pass to Nic Anderson. Zach Schmit extra point good.

4:23 first quarter, momentum-shifting play | Cincinnati 3, Oklahoma 0

UC snuffs out an Oklahoma scoring drive at the 10-yard line when Bryon Threats forces a Dillon Gabriel fumble. It's recovered by Jack Dingle. Bearcat ball.

Bearcats draw first blood, but still no touchdown | Cincinnati 3, Oklahoma 0

Carter Brown hits a 40-yard field goal ending a nine-play 37-yard drive that took 3:45. Corey Kiner had an 11-yard run in the series and Ryan Montgomery had a 13-yarder. A deep ball to Xzavier Henderson drew a pass interference on Oklahoma's Gentry Williams.

11:34 first quarter, 0-0 |TV timeout

UC went three-and-out on their first possession with Mason Fletcher getting off a 57-yard punt. The Bearcats likewise held Oklahoma to a three-and-out after a bad snap forced the Sooners to punt. UC ball on their own 41-yard-line.

Pregame alerts

Around 11 a.m. UC coach Scott Satterfield announced Deshawn Pace would not play vs. Oklahoma due to a violation of team rules. Redshirt junior Sammy Anderson also continues to be unavailable.

Recruits: In addition to the recruits in attendance listed below, Moeller's Jonah Hayes is here with his father Jonathan, the former Bengals tight ends coach. Jonathan Hayes used to coach at Oklahoma. His brother Jewett Hayes is committed to Moeller. Sister Jillian Hayes is on UC's women's basketball team and former Moeller center Jaxson Hayes went to Texas before becoming an NBA first-round draft pick.

It's the eighth conference for University of Cincinnati football and the biggest.

Coach Scott Satterfield's Big 12 football team has a challenging opener against the 3-0 Oklahoma Sooners who are ranked No. 16 in the most recent Associated Press poll. The 2-1 Bearcats feature the Big 12's third-ranked offense in total yards while the Sooners are second behind UCF.

UC Oklahoma How to watch UC's first Big 12 game against the Oklahoma Sooners today

UC Oklahoma Visiting Nippert Stadium? Here's what to know for UC Bearcats vs. Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners of Brent Venables top the league in scoring at 55.7 points per game and in passing at 358 yards per game behind veteran Dillon Gabriel. UC's rushing attack is second in the Big 12 to UCF at 239.3 yards per game. UC will have to run the ball in the game against the league's top defense with Oklahoma allowing just 9.3 points per game.

Going back in time

In 2018, current UC quarterback Emory Jones from Georgia was a four-star recruit according to 247Sports.com as he committed to Florida. Current Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Hawaii was rated a three-star committed to UCF. As a transfer Jones was downgraded to a three-star going to Arizona State, then Cincinnati. Gabriel was a four-star transfer coming from UCF to the Sooners.

Visitors of note for today

There will be a large amount of football and basketball recruits inside Nippert Stadium today. Football will host a trio of four-star recruits as will men's basketball.

Football four-star players on site

COMMITTED: Quarterback Samaj Jones, 2024 class from Philadelphia. VISITING: Tight end Eli Owens of Alcoa, Tennessee from the 2025 class; cornerback Onis Konanbanny of Columbia, South Carolina.

Three-stars on hand

COMMITTED: Wide receiver Elijah Jones, 2024 class from Philadelphia; Tight end Gavin Grover of Olentangy Lewis Center, 2024; Offensive lineman Jake Wheelock, Dayton Stebbins, 2024; Defensive back Willie Goodwyn, Tiger, Georgia, 2024; Defensive back Jiquan Sanks, Phenix City, Alabama, 2024; and defensive end Damian Shanklin, Indianapolis Warren Central, 2025.

VISITING (all 2025): Quarterback Zeb Kinsey of Toronto, Ohio; Quarterback Scotty Fox of Mentor, Ohio; Wide receiver Michael Scott of Dallastown, Pennsylvania; Defensive lineman Gordy Sulfsted, St. Xavier High School; Linebacker Grant Beerman, Lakota West; Linebacker P.J. Nelson, Princeton High School; Cornerback Taizaun Burns, Columbus East; Safety Desmond Straughton, Roseville, Michigan; and safety Siah Williams, Huber Heights Wayne.

NO CURRENT RATINGS: Tight end Kamaurri Smith, Huber Heights Wayne, 2025; Offensive lineman Cam Herron, Indianapolis Warren Central, 2025; and cornerback Patrick Williams, Rabun Gap, Georgia, 2025.

Four-star hoop dudes

2024 recruits Tyler Betsey of Windsor, Connecticut and Jase Richardson of Miami, Florida are scheduled to attend along with 2025 recruit Sadiq White of Charlotte, North Carolina.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats lose Big 12 opener to Oklahoma Sooners