Bearcats' 2026 Campaign Drowns in Liberty Bowl Rain

Well, another college football season has officially wrapped up, and for the Cincinnati Bearcats, it ended precisely as many feared it might: with a whimper, not a roar. Down in a very soggy Memphis, the Bearcats faced off against Florida Atlantic in the 2026 Liberty Bowl, and honestly, the weather kind of mirrored the team's entire season. A relentless rain hammered down on December 28th, making for a truly miserable playing experience, and ultimately, a 38-17 loss to the Owls.

It was a tough pill to swallow, you know? Cincinnati, finishing their year at a dismal 3-9, just couldn't seem to get anything going consistently. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby, for all his effort, had a really rough day trying to navigate the slick conditions and a stout FAU defense. He ended up going 17-for-32 for just 152 yards, but those two crucial interceptions felt like they came at the absolute worst times, really stalling any momentum the Bearcats tried to build.

You have to give it up for Corey Kiner, though. He was one of the few bright spots, trying to pound the ball on the ground despite the elements. Kiner churned out 75 yards on 17 carries and managed to punch in a touchdown, showing some of that grit Bearcat fans have come to appreciate. But even with receivers like Xzavier Henderson pulling in 5 catches for 68 yards, the overall offensive rhythm just wasn't there. It felt like every promising drive was either cut short by a turnover or a missed field goal, like Carter Brown's attempt, which just added to the frustration.

On the flip side, Florida Atlantic seemed to thrive in the slop. Their quarterback, Tyriq Starks, handled the rain with surprising poise, tossing for 201 yards and three touchdowns, even with one interception. And running back Marvin Scott III was an absolute workhorse, breaking the 100-yard mark with 112 yards and a score, really dictating the pace of the game. Wide receiver Ja'Quavion Rich, with his 100 yards and two touchdowns, proved to be a real handful for the Bearcats' secondary. They just looked like a team that adapted better, simple as that.

This Liberty Bowl defeat wasn't just another loss; it was the seventh consecutive one for the Bearcats, putting an especially sour cap on what was already a deeply disappointing season. A 3-9 record is certainly not what anyone in Cincinnati had envisioned, especially given the talent on the roster and the hopes that usually surround the program. It leaves you wondering, you know, what went wrong, and more importantly, what comes next for this team?

So, as the rain fell on Memphis, washing away the last hopes of a conciliatory victory, it also seemed to wash over a season best forgotten. It's clear there’s a lot of work to be done in the offseason. But hey, that's college football for you – always next year, always a chance to regroup, reload, and come back stronger. Bearcat faithful are nothing if not resilient, and they'll be watching closely to see how the team addresses these challenges moving forward.