CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Cole Tabb rushed for a 53-yard touchdown with 1:29 remaining, and Cincinnati rallied from a 28-7 halftime deficit to beat Miami (Ohio) 35-31 in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Nippert Stadium. Cincinnati was the home team and improved to 3-0. Miami (Ohio) was the visiting team and fell to 1-2. JC French IV was Cincinnati’s top star, completing 31 of 43 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns while running 16 times for 39 yards and another score. Tabb finished with 78 rushing yards on six carries, two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown as the Bearcats completed a second-half comeback.

Miami (Ohio) opened with immediate fireworks. Scoop Smith returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, and Kellan McLaughlin added the extra point. The Redhawks extended the lead when Lazaro Rogers ran 12 yards for a touchdown, and McLaughlin again converted. Cincinnati answered when Tabb scored on a 1-yard run, with Stephen Rusnak’s extra point cutting the deficit to 14-7. Miami (Ohio) responded in the second quarter when David McComb ran 6 yards for a touchdown. Before halftime, McComb found Maleek Huggins for a 36-yard touchdown pass, and McLaughlin’s extra point sent Miami (Ohio) into the break with a 28-7 advantage.

Cincinnati came out of the locker room and began its comeback. Miami (Ohio) kicker Kellan McLaughlin missed a 36-yard field goal attempt. French then scored on a 1-yard run, and Rusnak’s kick made it 28-14. The Bearcats pulled closer when French connected with Tabb on an 8-yard touchdown pass. McLaughlin later made a 19-yard field goal to give Miami (Ohio) a 31-21 lead, but he missed a 45-yard attempt. French then found JV Gibson for a 6-yard touchdown to make it 31-28. Cincinnati’s defense forced the opportunity needed for the final drive, and Tabb broke free for the 53-yard score that put the Bearcats ahead for good. Rusnak’s extra point set the final margin.

French’s passing day powered Cincinnati’s offense. He completed passes to multiple receivers, including JV Gibson, who had seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown; Isaiah Johnson, who had eight catches for 57 yards; Gavin Grover, who had five catches for 59 yards; and Larenzo Fenner, who had three catches for 57 yards. Giyahni Kontosis added one catch for 10 yards and Malachi Henry had one catch for 8 yards. Tabb added four receptions for 43 yards to go with his rushing production. Gi’Bran Payne ran nine times for 32 yards and caught two passes for 7 yards. Max Fletcher punted three times for 106 yards. Cincinnati’s defense was led by Antwan Peek Jr. with nine tackles and one sack, Jonathan Thompson with six tackles and one sack, Damaine Wilson with six tackles, MJ Cannon with four tackles and Jasper Beeler with four tackles. Cincinnati finished with 309 passing yards and 149 rushing yards.

Miami (Ohio) had a productive passing game in defeat. David McComb completed 17 of 28 passes for 334 yards, one touchdown and one rushing touchdown, and he added 19 rushing yards on nine carries. Maleek Huggins was his top target with four catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Damarion Witten had three catches for 84 yards, Lynel Billups-Williams had two catches for 45 yards, Braylon Isom had three catches for 38 yards, and Scoop Smith had two catches for 8 yards. Smith also returned two kickoffs for 111 yards and scored on his 98-yard kickoff return. Rodney Nelson ran seven times for 32 yards, Lazaro Rogers ran twice for 14 yards and a touchdown, D’Shawntae Jones ran nine times for 10 yards and caught one pass for 10 yards, and Cade Yacamelli had one carry for 1 yard. Pierse Stainton punted three times for 141 yards. Miami (Ohio) finished with 334 passing yards and 76 rushing yards.

Defensively for Miami (Ohio), Blayne Myrick made 11 tackles, Malcolm McCain had 10, Brock Uihlein had eight, Kaleb Martin had six, Grant Lyons had five tackles and two sacks, Tyler Dikos had four tackles and one sack, and Brach Rice had four tackles and one quarterback hurry. Mychal Yharbrough and Eli Coppess each finished with four tackles, while Ben Minich, Zhaiylen Scott and Dillon Tatum each had three. Zhaiylen Scott also recorded two quarterback hurries. Amariyun Knighten, Toney Coleman Jr., Kellan McLaughlin, Desmon Yharbrough and Vito McConnell each had one tackle. Leo Colombi had two tackles. The Redhawks’ defense recorded multiple tackles for loss and quarterback hurries, but Cincinnati scored on its final drive.

The win continued Cincinnati’s unbeaten start. The Bearcats previously beat Boston College 34-15 and Western Carolina 62-10. Miami (Ohio) had beaten Holy Cross 45-7 after opening with a 59-14 loss at Pittsburgh. Cincinnati will host Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, then visit Arizona on Oct. 3 and West Virginia on Oct. 17. The Bearcats also are scheduled to host Texas Tech on Oct. 24 and Utah on Oct. 31 before road games at Houston on Nov. 7, Iowa State on Nov. 14, and BYU on Nov. 28. Colorado is set to visit Cincinnati on Nov. 21. Miami (Ohio) will host Connecticut on Sept. 26, then host Bowling Green on Oct. 3 and travel to Massachusetts on Oct. 10. The Redhawks will host Akron on Oct. 17 and Central Michigan on Oct. 24, then host Buffalo on Nov. 3, host Ohio on Nov. 10, visit Kent State on Nov. 17, and visit Western Michigan on Nov. 24.

Interstat’s game simulator projected Cincinnati 26, Miami (Ohio) 24, and its ELO system gave Cincinnati a 76.4 percent probability to win. Miami (Ohio) had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +15.5. The total score of 66 went under the over/under line of 49.5.