Cincinnati stuns No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24 as JC French IV throws four TDs and Cole Tabb runs for 173

Texas Tech’s unbeaten season ended in Cincinnati on Saturday. JC French IV threw four touchdown passes, Cole Tabb ran for 173 yards, and the Bearcats beat the No. 8 Red Raiders 37-24 at Nippert Stadium.

It was Texas Tech’s first loss of the 2026 season and its first defeat of any kind since a 23-0 loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, according to Texas Tech’s postgame notes. Cincinnati improved to 5-2 and 2-2 in the Big 12. Texas Tech dropped to 6-1 and 3-1.

For Cincinnati, it was the program’s first home win over an AP top-10 opponent since beating No. 7 Rutgers 30-11 in 2006, per Texas Tech’s notes.

How Cincinnati built the lead

Texas Tech led 6-3 after one quarter on two Stone Harrington field goals. Then the Bearcats took over in the second quarter with three touchdown passes from French:

• A 4-yard pass to Tabb capped an 85-yard drive.
• A 5-yard pass to Malachi Henry with 1:37 left in the half made it 17-6.
• After MJ Cannon intercepted Will Hammond, Tabb broke a 51-yard run and French found Lyviel Waters from 2 yards out with five seconds left before halftime.

The 24-6 halftime deficit was Texas Tech’s largest at the break since trailing Texas 26-7 in November 2023, the school said.

Texas Tech’s comeback try

The Red Raiders’ defense gave them a chance in the third quarter. After another Harrington field goal, Peyton Morgan intercepted French and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 24-15. Texas Tech has now returned an interception for a touchdown in four straight games, which the school called a first for a Big 12 team in a single season. On Cincinnati’s next possession, Amier Boyd picked off French again.

But Harrington missed a 38-yard field goal after that turnover, and French answered with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Larenzo Fenner late in the third quarter for a 31-15 lead. Those were the first interceptions French had thrown all season, according to Texas Tech.

Cole Tabb’s big day

Tabb finished with 173 yards on 16 carries, an average of 10.8 a carry, plus a touchdown catch. His 58-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter made it 37-18 and was the first rushing touchdown Texas Tech had allowed all season. The Red Raiders entered the game with the nation’s fifth-ranked run defense at 82.0 yards a game, but Cincinnati ran for more than 250 yards. (Texas Tech’s notes list 252 rushing yards; the official box score shows 255.)

Quinten Joyner’s 3-yard touchdown run with 59 seconds left accounted for the final margin.

Box score leaders

Texas Tech football: what went wrong

Texas Tech lost the turnover battle 3-2 and was flagged a season-high 12 times for 80 yards, according to its postgame notes. Hammond’s streak of eight straight games with a touchdown pass ended. The 37 points were the most allowed by a Texas Tech defense under coordinator Shiel Wood.

The loss also snapped a four-game road winning streak for Joey McGuire’s team. The all-time series between the schools is now tied 1-1-1.

FAQ