Takeaways: What we learned from Cincinnati Bearcats' win over Indiana Hoosiers

"Hoosier daddy?" chants filled the air multiple times Saturday inside Nippert Stadium. It was that kind of a first half for the home team.

Ben Bryant needed only one half to throw for a single-game career-high four touchdowns (three to wide receiver Tyler Scott) as the University of Cincinnati football team defeated visiting Indiana, 45-24.

"I'm really happy we won," Bryant said. "That's obviously the goal every week. But I'm really nit-picky on myself and the offense in general. We'll definitely go back and look at the tape and see what we've got to do to get better."

The victory, though marred by a lack of offensive production in the second half, marked 29 straight for the Bearcats (3-1) at their home stadium. It also was their second win in as many seasons against their Big Ten Conference foe Hoosiers (3-1). Cincinnati dropped Indiana 38-24 in Bloomington last year.

The Bearcats will hit the road to face Tulsa (2-2) next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m on ESPNU.

"We'll find out a little bit more, especially next week," Fickell said. "We haven't fared well in the rush game against Tulsa the last couple of years. I will kind of throw that compliment out the door a little bit and say hey, we'll be tested even more next week, but we've got tocontinue to do well.”

The Golden Hurricane lost 35-27 at No. 16/13 (Associated Press/coaches polls) Ole Miss on Saturday.

Here's what we learned from Cincinnati's win:

Ben Bryant continues hot streak

Bryant entered Saturday as the American Athletic Conference's leader in completion percentage (70.1). The senior right-hander continued that hot streak against Indiana.

Bryant completed 17 of his first 21 pass attempts and threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns before the break. Bryant's 314 first-half yards are the most first-half passing yards for a Cincinnati quarterback since Zach Collaros threw for 340 yards in the first half against Connecticut on Nov. 7, 2009. Bryant is the latest Bearcats quarterback to throw for 300 yards in the opening half since Gunner Kielracked up 302 yards at Houston on Nov. 7, 2015.

"Coach Fick has been preaching to us starting strong and starting fast," Bryant said. "That's what we really tried to do. this game. But we've got to put one altogether and play the whole game like that."

Indiana switched into a Cover 2 defense (two high safeties) in the second half, and Bryant cooled off. The senior quarterback finished with 354 yards (matching a career high) on 24-of-40 passing, the four touchdowns and an interception.

Tyler Scoot makes history

After saying he and fellow wide receiver Tre Tucker joined each other at Cincinnati to make history, Scott went out and carved a few more lines in the UC record book.

Scott caught a 75-yard touchdown off the arm of Bryant in the first quarter. It was the Bearcats' longest pass play since Scott linked up with Desmond Ridder for an 81-yard score on Ridder's first throw of the 2021 campaign.

Scott caught two more touchdowns before halftime, becoming the only player in program history to haul in three touchdowns in a half.

Scott exited the field with 10 catches, 185 yards and the three scores. The last UC player with 10 receptions in a single game was Khalil Lewis in 2018.

Scott is also the first Bearcats receiver to record back-to-back 100-yard games since Chris Moore in 2015.

Ivan Pace Jr. continues defensive dominance

Cincinnati senior linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. had been the most consistent performer for the Bearcats through the first three games. The Miami University transfer stayed steady on Saturday.

Pace entered the day averaging an AAC-leading 10.33 tackles per contest. He had a team-high 15 (seven solo) against the Hoosiers.

"I'm having a lot of fun, especially coming back and playing with my brother (fellow linebacker Deshawn Pace)," Pace said. "This is more fun than anybody else thinks it is."

Pace also had 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss in the win. Pace now has 46 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble this season.

"He's a fireball," Fickell said. "He goes and goes and goes. I think we are going to continue to use him in different ways but find ways that we can kind of let him go. That's where he's dynamic. We're glad we've got him. He now fits. I don't mean in the scheme of what we do. He fits so well with the guys in the locker room."

Bryon Threats getting comfortable in defensive backfield

Cincinnati co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Colin Hitschler spent all spring and fall camps trying to find a safety to line up alongside Ja'Von HIcks. Hitschler settled on sophomore Bryon Threats.

Threats caught his first career interception on Saturday, returning it 28 yards to the Indiana 6-yard line. Unfortunately, Bryant and the offense stalled and UC had to settle for a field goal.

Threats also had nine tackles (seven solo) on the day.

"That is another guy that didn't stand out as much with some of things, penalties-wise, but the game was really fast. I think a little bit of the youth in him showed, but he's such a dynamic playmaker and a player that plays so hard that he overcomes some of those things,due to his ability to run, hit and be aggressive. That is another young guy. I know he’s been starting, but he’s a young guy. This experience today is going to grow on him.”

Penalties and no running game

Cincinnati committed 10 penalties in each of its first three games. Fickell called the issue an Achilles' heel.

The Bearcats committed eight penalties for 77 yards on Saturday. That's progress. But the 40 total rushing yards weren't. Cincinnati went scoreless on eight straight possessions in the second half as it struggled to counter Indiana's change in defensive alignment.

"We've got to find ways to create movement, create some seams," Fickell said. "We got to get Charles (McClelland) and Corey (Kiner) and those guys better opportunities to get to the second level. That was a big deal for us, finding ways to create big plays and get those guys to the second level. Today we didn’t really give them an opportunity to get the second level.”

McClelland, who left briefly in the first quarter with an injury, had 25 yards on nine carries. Kiner finished with 17 yards on 14 attempts and a late score.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Takeaways: What we learned from Cincinnati Bearcats' win over Indiana