Cincinnati Bearcats Football Bringing In Quarterback Transfer Target For Visit

Cincinnati is eyeing a player in a similar mold to Brendan Sorsby.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Lincoln Kienholz (3) and head coach Ryan Day watch during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025. Ohio State won 42-9. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — The Bearcats reportedly have a visit lined up with a quarterback target in the transfer portal.

Ohio State Buckeyes backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz entered the transfer portal today with two seasons of eligibility remaining. On3's Pete Nakos reports Cincinnati and Louisville are in the mix, while the Bearcat Bunch reported UC is hosting him on a visit in the coming days.

The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder arrived at Ohio State in 2023. He appeared in three games in his first season with the Buckeyes, finishing 10-of-22 passing for 111 yards.

Kienholz did not play in Ohio State's 2024 College Football Playoff national championship run, before suiting up in a few games as Julian Sayin's backup this season after losing the starting QB battle (11-of-14 passing in 2025 for 139 yards and a touchdown while adding 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns).

The South Dakota native was a four-star talent in the Class of 2023, ranked as the 11th-best QB prospect in the country and the 138th player nationally on 247Sports. He could be another diamond in the rough find for the Bearcats, similar to Brendan Sorsby, who is now the hottest QB commodity in the transfer portal, commanding a reported $5+ million price tag.

Cincinnati can't swim in those financial waters, but they have shown the ability to develop passers well so far under Satterfield. Kienholz would be the immediate starting option if he picked UC in the portal over the next month.

Kienholz is the No. 77 overall player and No. 14 quarterback in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings as a strong dual-threat maestro in the right hands. 

He has a similar profile to Sorsby while the latter was still at Indiana.

When you combine Lincoln Kienholz's running ability with his deep accuracy, you get plays like these when he is on the move. pic.twitter.com/cvAaZaAYHX

— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) June 23, 2023

Bookmark Bearcats Talk for the latest news, breakdowns, and so much more. Check out our YouTube page as well, starting with the video below.

Also, don't miss the podcast, Bearcat Blitz, wherever you get your shows!

Apple: http://apple.co/4fI26zj

Spotify: http://bit.ly/3OqvD4l

YouTube: http://bit.ly/414XiQ6

-----

Be sure to keep it locked in on Bearcats Talk, as we cover the trials and tribulations of the Big 12!

Follow Bearcats Talk on Twitter: @BearcatsTalk

Like Bearcats Talk on Facebook: Bearcats Talk