Skip to main content

Indiana football vs. Cincinnati: Week 4 kickoff & prediction

ByConnor O’Keefe
Indiana University's throwback helmet sits iin an endzone before the start of the Indiana versus Cincinnati football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 18, 2021.IU football helmet
Indiana University's throwback helmet sits iin an endzone before the start of the Indiana versus Cincinnati football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 18, 2021.IU football helmet

The Hoosiers are one of 32 teams in all of college football that are still undefeated as Indiana football heads into Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bearcats. With kickoff less than 72 hours away, we take a look at what is likely to happen in the game. Will the Hoosiers stay undefeated? Does Cincinnati move itself into the Top 25 with a dominant win?

Indiana football vs. Cincinnati kickoff

Saturday, September 24th
3:30pm E.S.T.
Nippert Stadium – Cincinnati, OH
ESPN2

College Football Bracket Challenge

GET READY TO COMPETE

Pick your champion (you can change it later). We’ll email you when brackets open.

No purchase necessary. 50 U.S./D.C. 18+. Entry opens 3PM ET Dec 6, 2026 and closes 8PM ET Dec 18, 2026. Void where prohibited.See for complete details. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is not a sponsor or administrator of this contest.

Indiana football vs. Cincinnati prediction

I am sticking with my gut final prediction for this Week 4 matchup between the Hoosiers and Bearcats. Cincinnati’s defense is not as good as it was last season and Indiana’s offense is getting a bit more comfortable week-by-week. Against then-ranked #8 Cincinnati last season, both teams were going back and forth until the Bearcats pulled away in the fourth quarter, 38-24.

While I believe Indiana football will lose their first game of the season, I don’t think the Hoosiers will go down without some fight. My expectation is that it’ll be another slow start for the offense, but the defense will keep them in the game as much as they can.

“Unfazed Baze” will answer the call for the Hoosiers and spread the ball around to D.J. Matthews Jr. and Cam Camper, especially because I think the Bearcats defense will shut down Shaun Shivers and Josh Henderson for the most part. Most people believe this game will be a blowout in favor of the Bearcats, especially with it being a home game, but Indiana football is still fighting to keep their undefeated season alive.

Add us as a preferred source on Google