CBS Sports Analyst Bud Elliott Picks Cincinnati as 2025 Big 12 Football Sleeper Team

A path is there to make some noise.

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield speaks to the team during the Cincinnati Bearcats football spring practice at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI —  CBS Sports college football analyst Bud Elliott thinks the Bearcats can make some noise as a dark horse team in the Big 12 this football season.

Cincinnati has the schedule to surprise people if the roster stays healthier than last year. Elliott discussed their chances on the Cover 3 Podcast.

"Defensively, like they made some smart hires last year that maybe didn't fully show last year because their defensive line was just so banged up," Elliott noted. "And I know that they lost some guys on defense, but I do think that [Brendan] Sorsby, a competent run game, and maybe just a defense that doesn't have everybody hurt all the time [can be interesting]. Can we get some positive regression on the injury front? On defense, I'm serious about this. Take a look at their schedule here. It's really like, not that bad, right?"

Elliott declared Cincinnati could beat Nebraska in Week 1, which would set them up to go undefeated in non-conference and get halfway to bowl eligibility in September.

It's not crazy to expect some better injury luck this fall, especially given the training advantages Cincinnati now has in its new performance facility. Access to all that new equipment in the hands of the best training staff in the Big 12 could offer UC a unique advantage in a highly competitive conference.

Check out the full thoughts from Elliott below:

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