Scouting report: A look at the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, the next opponent for No. 6 UC

Keith Jenkins, Cincinnati Enquirer
·4 min read

The University of Cincinnati football team needed a big second half to pull away from the Tulane Green Wave last week in New Orleans.

The Bearcats (8-0, 4-0 American Athletic Conference) are ranked sixth in the College Football Playoff rankings. In order to stay in contention for the top four spots, Cincinnati will need to weather another storm on Saturday at Nippert Stadium.

More: Cincinnati Bearcats enter at No. 6 in first College Football Playoff rankings

Cincinnati will play the Tulsa Golden Hurricane for the first time since last December, when the Bearcats defeated Tulsa 27-24 for the first AAC championship in program history.

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) raises the championship trophy following the American Athletic Conference championship football game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won, 27-24.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) raises the championship trophy following the American Athletic Conference championship football game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won, 27-24.

Desmond Ridder completed 19 of 29 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown, rushed for an additional 83 yards and another score and was named the game's most outstanding player.

"We know that over there in Oklahoma they're wanting to get up here really bad and play us again," Ridder said of Tulsa. "We know that, like every team, they're going to give us their all. They're going to give us their best, except they have a little something more because they still have a bad taste in their mouth from last season. ... That's something that we have to be ready for."

More: What channel is the game on? Here's how to watch, stream Cincinnati vs. Tulsa

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) celebrates a first down run in the first quarter of the NCAA American Athletic Conference Championship game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) celebrates a first down run in the first quarter of the NCAA American Athletic Conference Championship game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.

Our First Look at the Tulsa Golden Hurricane

RECORD: Tulsa is 3-5 (2-2 AAC) this season. The Golden Hurricane have won three of their last five games after opening the season with three straight losses.

Tulsa began its 2021 campaign with a 19-17 loss to FCS opponent UC-Davis (7-1). The Golden Hurricane then lost 28-23 at Oklahoma State (7-1) and 41-20 at Ohio State (7-1).

Both the Buckeyes (No. 5) and Oklahoma State (No. 11) are vying for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Tulsa has home wins over Arkansas State (1-7) and Memphis (4-4, 1-3) and defeated South Florida (2-6, 1-3) in Tampa. The Golden Hurricane also lost 45-10 at home against Houston (7-1, 5-0) and 20-17 at home last week to Navy (2-6, 2-4).

Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery stands with his team during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Memphis, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery stands with his team during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Memphis, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

HEAD COACH: Philip Montgomery is 34-45 in seven seasons at Tulsa.

Montgomery led the Golden Hurricane to an undefeated 6-0 regular season conference record and an appearance in the AAC title game against the Bearcats last season. Cincinnati defeated Tulsa on a last-second field goal.

Under Montgomery, the Golden Hurricane reached as high as No. 18 in last season's Associated Press poll and was No. 23 in the CFP poll at the time of the AAC championship game.

The 49-year-old Dallas native is 1-2 in bowl games at Tulsa, including a 28-26 loss to Mississippi State in last season's Armed Forces Bowl.

Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery gestures to his team during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery gestures to his team during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

KEY PLAYERS: Sophomore Anthony Watkins has been a dynamic weapon for the Golden Hurricane this season. The 5-foot-11, 207-pound running back and kick return specialist was named to the AAC Honor Roll this week after racking up 178 all-purpose yards against the Midshipmen.

Watkins had a 78-yard run from scrimmage and a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last week.

Tulsa running back Anthony Watkins (23) takes off on a 78-yard run in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Tulsa running back Anthony Watkins (23) takes off on a 78-yard run in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Offensively, Tulsa is led by first-year starting quarterback Davis Brin. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound junior has completed 149 of 257 of his passes (58%) for 2,095 yards. Brin has thrown 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season.

Brin's 261.9 passing yards-per-game average is third most in the AAC.

Running backs Shamari Brooks (73.5) and Deneric Prince (67.7) are ranked fifth and sixth, respectfully, in the AAC in rushing yards per game.

Senior wide receiver Josh Johnson ranks fourth in the conference with 71.6 receiving yards per contest.

Tulsa cornerback Travon Fuller (2) intercepts a pass intended for Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert (88) on Sept. 18 in Columbus, Ohio.
Tulsa cornerback Travon Fuller (2) intercepts a pass intended for Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert (88) on Sept. 18 in Columbus, Ohio.

Defensively, senior cornerback Tyon Davis leads the team with 53 tackles (41 solo). Tulsa's other corner, graduate student Travon Fuller, has a team-high two interceptions.

Junior linebacker Justin Wright leads the Golden Hurricane with 3.5 sacks.

SERIES HISTORY: Tulsa leads the all-time series 17-16-2. But Cincinnati has won six of the last seven matchups, including last season's meeting in the AAC title game. The Bearcats are 13-4 all-time against the Golden Hurricane at home.

FUN FACT: Cincinnati enters Saturday's homecoming clash riding a 24-game home winning streak. That trails only Clemson (32) as the longest home winning streak in the country. The Bearcats haven't lost a game at home since Nov. 10, 2017 (35-24 loss to Temple).

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati football vs. Tulsa: A look at the Golden Hurricane