Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Miami RedHawks: Victory Bell Drama Unfolds at TQL Stadium

When the 129th "Battle for the Victory Bell" was first announced, nobody expected it to end up on a soccer field. Yet on September 19, 2026, the bright lights of FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium illuminated a college football rivalry that hadn’t been seen on grass since the Bearcats played at Yager Stadium back in 2024.

The move was more than a novelty. Earlier this year, the University of Cincinnati and the Miami University athletic department signed a multi‑year contract that lets the Bearcats use the 26,000‑seat stadium for selected home games. It’s a win‑win, the schools said: the Bearcats get a fresh playing surface and a downtown showcase, while FC Cincinnati gets a guaranteed crowd and a touch of college‑town atmosphere.

Fans who remembered the 2022 matchup at the Bengals’ Paycor Stadium – a cavernous 65,515‑seat venue that held over 30,000 fans for the rivalry – were pleasantly surprised by the intimacy of TQL. The grass field, a first for Cincinnati’s season, felt a little softer underfoot, and the roar of the crowd seemed to bounce off the walls in a way that made every tackle feel personal.

On the field, the story was anything but quiet. Miami opened strong, carving out a 21‑point lead by halftime. The RedHawks' quarterback, David McComb, was crisp, finding his receivers with precision and forcing the Bearcats to play catch‑up football.

Enter Scott Satterfield’s sideline, where the mood was surprisingly calm. "I thought our guys didn’t panic," Satterfield later admitted, a grin creeping across his face as the third quarter ticked down. The Bearcats began to chip away, first with a well‑timed JC French IV pass that set up a short field, then with a series of gritty runs that kept the clock moving.

The climax arrived with just over a minute left. Cole Tabb, the Bearcats’ speedy running back, took a pitch‑out and sprinted 53 yards for a touchdown, slipping past Miami’s defense as if the stadium itself were cheering him on. The extra point gave Cincinnati a 35‑31 lead – a lead they managed to hold despite a desperate final drive by the RedHawks that ended in a costly fumble.

Beyond the scoreboard, the game sparked a few side‑notes. ESPN’s play‑by‑play commentator Pete Sousa stumbled over the fumble recovery call, prompting a chuckle from the booth and a few memes online. Meanwhile, the success of the TQL contract has already set the stage for future games on the West End pitch, with talks of turning the venue into a regular stop for the Bearcats’ marquee matchups.

For the players, coaches, and fans, the night was a reminder of why rivalries matter. The Victory Bell – now 62‑60‑7 in Cincinnati’s favor – rang louder than ever, echoing across a stadium that, for one night, became a crossroads of college football tradition and modern soccer flair.