The first quarter was all field goals. Then Bearcats quarterback JC French IV threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Cole Tabb for a 10-6 lead. He added a 5-yard score to Malachi Henry and a 2-yard strike to tight end Lyviel Waters right after Tech quarterback Will Hammond threw an interception.
Cincinnati led 231 yards to 153 in total offense at halftime. Tabb ran eight times for 86 yards before the break, and Hammond hit 10 of 17 passes for 82 yards with a fumble and an interception.
Tech found a spark in the third. Harrington opened the half with a 42-yard field goal, and safety Peyton Morgan returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown, though the two-point try failed. Amier Boyd then picked off French at the Cincinnati 37, but Harrington missed a 38-yard field goal. French answered with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Larenzo Farmer for a 31-15 lead.
Tabb made sure of the margin late with a 58-yard touchdown run. Tech's only offensive touchdown came with 59 seconds left, and its onside kick sailed out of bounds right after.
For Red Raiders fans, the next chance to answer comes against Arizona at 11 a.m. Next Saturday.