Cincinnati stuns No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24 behind Cole Tabb's 173 rushing yards

Cole Tabb ran for a career-high 173 yards, JC French IV threw a career-high four touchdown passes, and Cincinnati beat No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24 on Saturday at Nippert Stadium.

It was Cincinnati's first home win over a top-10 team since Nov. 18, 2006, when the Bearcats beat No. 7 Rutgers 30-11, according to the Associated Press. They also won at No. 9 Notre Dame in 2021. Saturday was homecoming, and the Bearcats are now 5-0 at home.

Texas Tech led 6-3 after the first quarter on two Stone Harrington field goals. Then French took over the second. He threw a 4-yard touchdown to Tabb, a 5-yarder to Malachi Henry and a 2-yarder to Lyviel Waters with 4 seconds left in the half, and Cincinnati went to the locker room up 24-6.

The Red Raiders got back in it early in the third quarter. Harrington kicked a 42-yard field goal, and on Cincinnati's next possession Peyton Morgan intercepted French and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown. The two-point try failed, leaving it 24-15. French answered with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Larenzo Fenner with 50 seconds left in the quarter.

Harrington's fourth field goal, from 33 yards, made it 31-18 with 7:42 to play. On the next drive Tabb broke a 58-yard touchdown run, and that put it away. Quinten Joyner scored from 3 yards out with 59 seconds left for the final margin.

Tabb averaged 10.8 yards on his 16 carries, scored twice and helped Cincinnati to 255 rushing yards and 427 total. French went 19 of 30 for 172 yards with two interceptions and added 46 yards rushing. Linebacker Jasper Beeler had 11 tackles, and Simeon Coleman had 10 with a sack.

Texas Tech finished with 400 yards to Cincinnati's 427 and kept hurting itself. The Red Raiders committed 13 penalties for 85 yards, lost fumbles by Coy Eakin and quarterback Will Hammond, and went 3 for 15 on third down. Hammond completed 24 of 37 passes for 227 yards with an interception by MJ Cannon. Kenny Johnson caught seven passes for 81 yards, and J'Koby Williams ran for 81. Harrington made 4 of 5 field goals.

The AP said Texas Tech missed a chance to start 7-0 for the first time since 2013. The Red Raiders are 6-1 and 3-1 in the Big 12. Cincinnati is 5-2 and 2-2.