The final score doesn't really indicate it, but UC played its worst half of Football on offense today against Miami. The first half was an absolute disaster by almost any measure. 157 total yards, on a paltry 4.2 yards per play, 3 of 8 on third down conversions and worst of all three turnovers which put UC into the red for turnover margin for the first time all season. And yet UC went into the half with a 6-0 lead. Why? Because the much maligned and run down defense turned in a truly vintage performance dominating at the line of scrimmage and keeping Miami contained for the most part. Miami was in this game because the UC offense kept them in the game. 4 times the offense turned it over and 4 times the Bearcat defense responded by punching Miami off the field. This is a performance that UC needed because they can't win with offense alone in the Big East. UC will have to win a couple of game in conference just like this. Now for some bullet points.
- Zach Collaros had a great stat line, 251 yards passing, 89 running, 1 TD. But he played poorly, accounting for 3 of the 4 turnovers, completing 53 per cent of his passes and just generally making bad decisions
- One thing is certain, outside of Kenbrell Thompkins, the receivers did him no favors. I counted 6 drops in the course of the game but it felt like there were more.
- D.J. Woods was shutout out for the first time since the 2008 Orange Bowl. Thus ends a streak of 28 straight games with at least 1 reception. That has to be a UC record
- Isaiah Pead was bottled up by Miami 49 yards on 18 carries. He did have two TD's, but 2.7 per carry is not what we have come to expect.
- Kenbrell Thompkins had five grabs for 73 yards and has set his career high for yardage for the second game in a row
- The UC TE's combined for 2 catches, 102 yards and a TD
- J.K. Schaffer might just win defensive player of the week again. 7 tackles, 2.5 for loss, .5 sacks 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery for a TD
- Arryn Chenault drew his first career start
- Derek Wolfe went sackless for the first time in 2011, but he did have 6 tackles, 2.5 for loss.
- Patrick O'Donnell was huge again this week, 7 punts for an average of 42.4 yards with 3 downed inside the 20
Targeting Data and gameballs after the jump
| Player | Targets | Catches |
| Anthony McClung | 11 | 6 |
| Kenbrell Thompkins | 7 | 5 |
| Isaiah Pead | 4 | 2 |
| D.J. Woods | 4 | 0 |
| Adrien Robinson | 1 | 1 |
| Travis Kelce | 1 | 1 |
| George Winn | 1 | 1 |
Gameballs
Offense; Kenbrell Thompkins 5 catches, 73 yards and by far the most consistent receiver on the field for UC
Defense; J.K. Schaffer 7 tackles, 2.5 for loss, .5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble returned for a TD