Cincy crowd floods Nippert after upset of No. 8 Texas Tech

The University of Cincinnati fielded a crowd large enough to storm Nippert Stadium immediately after the final whistle on Saturday. The Bearcats defeated the No. 8 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders, 37-24, capping a three-day celebration of the institution's 100th annual Homecoming.

The victory was the centerpiece of a weekend that included 25 distinct events. Organizers from the Student Alumni Council and the UC Alumni Association coordinated the schedule, which peaked with a parade on the morning of October 24. The procession moved along Calhoun Street and Clifton Avenue, drawing thousands of spectators to watch 15 float entries. Chi Omega and Sigma Chi were selected as the winners of the 2026 Homecoming Float award.

Koah Wilson, a third-year marketing major, served on the Homecoming Court after a nomination from the Lindner Business Honors Program. Her parents, Kelly and Kenneth Wilson, along with her brother Kenneth Jr., attended the events. The family joined UC President Neville Pinto for a tailgate before taking their seats at the stadium. Wilson described the morning of the parade as feeling like opening a gift on Christmas morning, noting that the anticipation was finally worth it.

The game itself provided a platform for the coronation of the 2026 Homecoming royalty. During halftime, Hailey Kelps, a fourth-year chemical engineering major, and Noah Levitt, a third-year finance and international business major, were named Queen and King. Kelps received her nomination from the Cincinnati Panhellenic Council and the Phi Mu, Delta Zeta Chapter. Levitt was selected by the Interfraternity Council. Student Body Vice President Zohair Siddiqui and Kripa Kumaran, a third-year medical science major, were named Prince and Princess.

The Homecoming Court included seven additional members. Larissa Hemker, a fourth-year nursing student, and Marissa Lay, a fourth-year business analytics and business economics major, joined the group. Adolphus Addison, a fifth-year biomedical engineering student, Will Geneovese, a fourth-year business economics and finance student, and Bryce Agypong, a third-year international business and operations management major, completed the lineup.

Alexander Dorr, a fifth-year chemical engineering student, watched the parade from Clifton Avenue alongside Anna Chen, a master's student from Dayton, and a graduate friend from Houston. Dorr stated that the event offered a chance for diverse groups of students and alumni to share the UC experience. He noted that the day was a time for people from everywhere to celebrate the university.

Jennifer Heisey, chief alumni officer for the UC Alumni Association, commented on the scale of the reunion. She said it was wonderful to see Bearcats reconnect and celebrate the university, adding that the pride and enthusiasm of the community were palpable. The event received coverage from Fox 19, WCPO, and Local 12.

Wilson, who resides in Morgens Residence Hall and serves as a resident advisor, called the weekend a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She said she forgot for a moment that she was on the Homecoming Court because she was so focused on the game and her family. Wilson described walking into the Lindner College of Business and seeing friendly faces as a daily occurrence that brightens her day.