Bearcats keep core of award-caliber line as Big 12 schedule looms
The University of Cincinnati will open the Big 12 era with continuity up front after the return of three offensive linemen who started all 13 games last season. The group — Taran Tyo, Joe Cotton and Evan Tengesdahl — was a major reason Cincinnati was a 2025 semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's top offensive line.
This trio helped the Bearcats rank among the national leaders in both run efficiency and protection last year: Cincinnati finished tied for No. 3 in yards per rush (5.69) and No. 2 in fewest sacks allowed (8). Those figures will be central to how the program manages a tougher conference slate that includes more physical defensive fronts and NFL-caliber pass rushers.
- Taran Tyo — starting right guard in 2025, moving to center for 2026; praised for versatility and leadership.
- Joe Cotton — experienced left tackle with 40 career starts, entering his second year with Cincinnati after transferring from South Dakota.
- Evan Tengesdahl — part of the three-man core that anchored the line through every game last season.
Position shifts and experience within the group will be closely watched during summer practice and fall camp. Tyo, who transferred to Cincinnati before the 2025 season and has accumulated 36 career starts, is transitioning from guard to center and said he has been focused on play identification and linebacker leverage.
"I’ve been working everyday at getting better at IDing fronts. And learning linebacker leverage from switching to guard to center."
The move to center is more than a personnel change. At center, Tyo will be asked to make pre-snap calls and adjust protections — responsibilities that matter more in the Big 12, where offenses and defenses often hinge on quick reads and complex blitz packages. Tyo's size (listed at 6-foot-3, 395 pounds) and his willingness to change positions were noted by evaluators; he earned preseason All-Big 12 recognition from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports for 2026.
Cotton, who transferred into Cincinnati in April 2025 after a decorated run at South Dakota, brings event-level experience. He made All-Missouri Valley Conference teams in 2023 and 2024 and was named to the 2025 All-Big 12 Second Team after handling a full slate of starts at left tackle.
| Player | 2025 role | Career starts |
|---|---|---|
| Taran Tyo | Right guard → Center (2026) | 36 |
| Joe Cotton | Left tackle | 40 |
| Evan Tengesdahl | Offensive line starter | 13 (2025) |
For Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the continuity along the offensive front carries practical stakes. A reliable rushing attack and strong protection for the quarterback can preserve recruiting momentum in Ohio and the Midwest, keep the program competitive in the Big 12, and give players exposure to NFL scouts evaluating linemen against higher-tier competition.
Head coach Scott Satterfield’s staff will use the spring and summer windows to test combos and confirm depth. The Bearcats' 2025 statistics set expectations: opposing defenses had difficulty disrupting the backfield, and the low sack total signaled effective pass protection. Maintaining those standards against Big 12 opponents will be a leading indicator of Cincinnati’s ability to contend in its new conference home.
Local supporters and scouts will follow the line's development closely: sustained performance up front is likely to shape game plans, influence in-game tempo, and determine how Cincinnati matches up with the Big 12’s faster, more varied defensive fronts. The return of Tyo, Cotton and Tengesdahl gives the Bearcats a veteran spine on which to build that effort.
