Cincinnati Football: Deshawn Pace suspended for Big 12 opener after violating team rules

Cincinnati Bearcats senior defensive back Deshawn Pace will be suspended for the Big 12 opener after violating team rules according to Scott Satterfield.

Redshirt freshman defensive back Ken Willis is set to make his first career start and will attempt to replace Pace against the 16th ranked Oklahoma Sooners.

Satterfield made the announcement that Pace would be suspended an hour prior to kick off as Cincinnati tries to pull off an upset over the Big 12 contender.

The Bearcats will lean on several players to step up in the secondary including safety duo Bryon Threats and Taj Ward, plus transfer cornerback Jordan Young.

Cincinnati Football: Deshawn Pace suspended for Big 12 opener after violating team rules

• Date: Saturday, September 23 at 12:00 PM
• Location: Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati
• Series History: Bearcats trail 0-2
• TV Broadcast: FOX and fuboTV

Make sure to check out our preview for the highly-anticipated conference opener including the latest odds, players to watch, TV coverage and more.

Oklahoma is led by star quarterback Dillon Gabriel, speedy wide receiver Andrel Anthony, running back Tawee Walker and linebacker Danny Stutsman.

The Bearcats are currently 14.5-point underdogs against Oklahoma with the over/under projected at 57.5 total points according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Cincinnati Football: Bearcats attempt to pull off upset over 16th ranked Oklahoma in Big 12 opener

Bryan Brown’s defense must be ready to face a difficult test but it’s a chance to showcase their resiliency against an extremely explosive offense.

Gabriel enters the Big 12 opener as a legitimate Heisman candidate with 905 passing yards and 11 touchdowns on a 82.5% completion rate this season.

Satterfield discussed the recent loss to Miami and previewed the matchup against Oklahoma during a midweek press conference via Cincinnati Athletics.

The Sooners are known for an extremely explosive and up-tempo offense that could present a difficult challenge for Cincinnati’s undermanned defense.