Cincinnati Bearcats launch 'Pancake With Us' campaign to spotlight dominant offensive line

While most college football programs spend the offseason hyping their star quarterbacks and running backs for Heisman Trophy campaigns, the Cincinnati Bearcats are taking a different approach. They are stocking up on pancake batter.

With three returning starters from one of the nation's top offensive lines in 2025, Cincinnati has launched the 'Pancake With Us' campaign. The goal is to get their blockers the recognition they deserve for the Joe Moore Award, which honors the best offensive line in college football.

The Joe Moore Award, first presented in 2015, went to Iowa last season. Cincinnati's offensive line was one of 10 semifinalists in 2025, and the Bearcats believe they can become the first Big 12 program to win the award since its inception.

Why Cincinnati's offensive line deserves national attention

Last season, Cincinnati's offensive line surrendered just eight sacks in 13 games, ranking second in the FBS in fewest sacks allowed. Only Army, which attempted far fewer passes, allowed fewer sacks. The Bearcats gave up just two sacks across their first nine games and only allowed multiple sacks in one contest.

The run blocking was even more impressive. Cincinnati ranked third in the FBS with 5.69 rushing yards per attempt, trailing only Utah and Navy. The team's top four rushers averaged between 5.8 and 7.1 yards per carry, regularly gaining 5 to 10 yards before first contact.

'What we pride ourselves on is the run game,' said offensive lineman Taran Tyo. 'We're a bunch of physical guys that want to get after it. We find a lot of pride and joy in taking care of our quarterbacks and running backs.'

Returning starters anchor a veteran line

Cincinnati returns three offensive starters in 2026, all of them members of the offensive line: Joe Cotton, Evan Tengesdahl, and Taran Tyo. The line lost seventh-round NFL Draft pick Gavin Gerhardt at center and right tackle Deondre Buford to graduation, but every eligible starter chose to return.

Tengesdahl, a Dayton native, was a hot commodity in the transfer portal. But he chose loyalty over money.

'I had a really good season last year, so that kind of played a factor,' Tengesdahl said. 'I put all my success to (offensive line coach Nic Cardwell) and he made me the player I am. He developed me from my freshman year from a raw prospect. He made me who I am, so I give that success to him. I had to come back because my teammates, I made a promise to them that we were gonna continue this thing and finish it out.'

Tengesdahl added: 'Money's not a factor to me. It was really about the connection part and loyalty to a program.'

New quarterback excited about protection

That loyalty impressed new starting quarterback JC French IV, who transferred from Georgia Southern in January. French saw firsthand what poor protection looks like: Georgia Southern surrendered at least 30 sacks last season, more than triple Cincinnati's total.

'The first thing that comes to mind is loyalty,' French said of the returning linemen. 'They all probably could have gone somewhere else, and who knows what could happen? But during my portal process, they all reached out to me and were kind of recruiting me. That shows their character and how much they love the University of Cincinnati.'

Tyo recalled French's reaction to his first practices behind the Bearcat line: 'One of the first things he said was, 'I do feel really comfortable in this pocket. You guys are giving me a ton of time to get the ball out.''

Pancake breakfast and a new look up front

At Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas, Cincinnati offensive linemen presented media members with gift boxes containing a diner-style pancake menu, pancake mix, and maple syrup. The 'Pancake With Us' campaign continues with a pancake breakfast on August 8 at Sheakley Lawn, before the team's open practice at Nippert Stadium.

On the field, the Bearcats will break in two new starters. Leading candidates include Xavier Lozowicki at right guard and Judea Milton at right tackle, though those jobs remain open entering fall camp. Head coach Scott Satterfield and offensive line coach Nic Cardwell have decided to keep the three veterans together on the left side of the line.

'I want to get where they play the best and are most comfortable,' Satterfield said. 'We're gonna put them in the best spot where they can be good, but I think that first unit's gonna be outstanding.'

Tyo will shift from left guard to center, a position he played briefly at Ball State. 'Learning how to ID quickly,' Tyo said of his biggest challenge. 'Last year, I knew the IDs but maybe had to think about it a time or two. It's really just understanding, I get up there, I see the defense, I know what to call and have the confidence to do that.'

Team chemistry fuels success

The offensive line's bond extends beyond the field. They compete in video games like Rainbow Six Siege, Fortnite, and EA Sports College Football 27, where Tengesdahl is tied for the highest-rated player in the Big 12 and the highest-rated offensive guard in the country at 93 overall. Tengesdahl has taken up golf and regularly takes teammates out on the links. Tyo dreams of arranging an o-line hog hunt in Texas.

'We're one of the most connected units on the team,' Tyo said. 'We have a really, really strong connection. That starts from the top down with Nic Cardwell as our offensive line coach and then us as leaders.'

For a position that rarely gets attention, the Bearcats are determined to prove they have the best offensive line in the country.

'For a position that doesn't get too much acknowledgement, it means a lot for us having such a really good o-line that we're getting a lot of attention,' Tengesdahl said. 'It means a lot seeing all the guys on the o-line getting what they finally deserve.'