Three things to know about Cincinnati before Arkansas football's season opener
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football kicks off its 2022 season with a tough non-conference challenge: Cincinnati. The No. 23 Razorbacks and No. 22 Bearcats will clash at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, ESPN).
As Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said, so much is uncertain in Week 1 games, and it's all about figuring out what a team is "bringing to the party." Here are three things to know about Cincinnati before the Razorbacks' season opener.
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Quarterback controversy
Cincinnati has two options for replacing star quarterback Desmond Ridder, who led the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff and was taken in the third round of the NFL draft. Coach Luke Fickell declined to publicize his pick for starting quarterback, so which player will trot out against Arkansas is a mystery. It will be either redshirt senior Ben Bryant or redshirt sophomore Evan Prater.
Depending on which quarterback gets the ball, Cincinnati's offense is different. Prater, a former four-star prospect from the Cincinnati area, is a speedy, dual-threat quarterback capable of making plays with his legs. Bryant, who started at Eastern Michigan last season, is a talented pocket passer with more arm talent.
Reloading a depleted roster
Ridder was one of many Bearcats to move on to the pros after the 2021 season. Cincinnati had nine players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, the third-most of any program. Now, the Bearcats have to replace all that talent.
Cincinnati is particularly depleted in the secondary, having lost top cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant as well as safety Bryan Cook. Ja'Von Hicks is the only returning starting defensive back. The Bearcats likely will experiment with a rotating cast of DBs, similar to what Arkansas is expected to do at corner in Week 1 with its numerous viable options.
The Bearcats also lost receiver Alec Pierce, a second-round pick, and running back Jerome Ford, taken in the fifth round. The pair accounted for almost 40% of Cincinnati's offensive yards last season. The returning wideouts -- Tre Tucker, Jadon Thompson and Tyler Scott -- are poised to take on bigger roles. At running back, Cincinnati has four players strung together with "or" on its Week 1 depth chart. One of the biggest questions surrounding the Bearcats' offense outside the quarterback position is which running back is capable of taking on the majority of the carries.
With so many players moving into new, more prominent roles, it remains to be seen how Cincinnati will put them together against one of the toughest opponents on the schedule.
Experienced offensive line
One spot the Bearcats didn't have to reload is the offensive line. Cincinnati is one of eight programs in the country that can boast all five of last season's starters returning this year. The group that blocked for Ridder helped Cincinnati to almost 5,800 yards total offense last season.
It's a difficult matchup for an Arkansas defensive line that lost two of its best players in Tre Williams and John Ridgeway. The Razorbacks have been on a quest this offseason to improve their pass rush and find a defensive end who can get to the quarterback.
"On paper, they’re way ahead of us," Pittman said Wednesday. "We have a plan. We think we can have success as long as we can execute it and run to the ball and play hard. But that’s going to be a big challenge."
Score prediction
Arkansas 35, Cincinnati 21 — As Pittman said in the lead-up to Saturday, you never really know who's good in Week 1. That's true for both of these teams, who are coming off strong seasons but lost some significant pieces. Arkansas has the advantages of home field and consistency at quarterback and other key positions. The Razorbacks will open with a win.
Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks for the Southwest Times Record and USA Today Network. You can follow her on Twitter @christinalong00 or email her at clong@swtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas football vs. Cincinnati: Score prediction, scouting report
