French's Four Touchdowns Power Cincinnati to Fifth Straight Win

It was a night that will stick in the minds of Bearcats fans for a while. In front of a roaring crowd at Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati’s offense seemed to have hit the turbo button, and the main catalyst was sophomore running back Ethan French.

French touched the ball a total of twelve times, but more importantly he turned those touches into four touchdowns – two on the ground, two as a receiver. The first came early in the second quarter when he burst through a gap on a sweep and sprinted 15 yards into the end zone. By the time the halftime whistle blew, the score already hinted at a blowout.

Coach Luke Fickell, looking pleased but never overly enthusiastic, praised his star player in the locker room: “Ethan’s been working his tail off. When he got the ball tonight, he just kept finding the holes. It’s a good sign for the whole team.” The Bearcats, meanwhile, kept stacking the points, ultimately cruising to a 38‑14 victory over the visiting Kansas State Wildcats.

It wasn’t just French doing the heavy lifting. Quarterback Desmond Ridder added two passing touchdowns, and the defense forced three turnovers, including a crucial interception late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win. Still, the spotlight belonged to French, who finished the night with 112 rushing yards and a handful of receptions that turned into big plays.

With the win, Cincinnati extended its winning streak to five straight games – the longest run the program has seen this season. The momentum feels real, and the players themselves seem to sense it. “We’re feeding off each other,” senior linebacker Jordan McFadden said, a grin spreading across his face. “When one guy makes a big play, it lifts everyone else up. Tonight was all about that energy.”

Statistically, French’s four touchdowns set a personal best and tied the school record for most touchdowns by a single player in a game since the early 2000s. The Bearcats’ offensive coordinator, Mike Denbrock, hinted that the play‑calling next week might lean even more heavily on French’s dual‑threat ability. “We love keeping defenses guessing,” he said. “If he can run, catch, and still be a threat in the passing game, that opens up a lot of doors.”

Looking ahead, Cincinnati travels to face Louisville next Saturday, a matchup that could test whether the Bearcats’ surge is sustainable. For now, though, fans can revel in the night French lit up the scoreboard and helped the team stretch its streak to five games – a benchmark that feels both encouraging and a little bit intoxicating.