Delaware State @ Cincinnati preview

Delaware State at Cincinnati

Cincinnati entered the season with more questions than answers after losing key offensive pieces from a team that tied for the Big East regular-season title in 2011. Junior quarterback Munchie Legaux and senior tailback George Winn, though, have eased some of the concern for now. The duo will try to build off their impressive season-opening performances at home Saturday against FCS foe Delaware State. The Bearcats, who have only five starters back on offense, rolled to a 34-10 victory over Pittsburgh on Sept. 6. Meanwhile, Delaware State, coming off a 38-14 loss to instate rival Delaware, will face an FBS opponent for the first time since 2009.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3.com. LINE: None

ABOUT DELAWARE STATE (1-1): After opening the season with a 17-10 victory over Virginia Military Institute, the Hornets were their own worst enemy in a 38-14 loss to the Hens. Delaware State outgained Delaware 353-282, but senior Nick Elko threw two interceptions – one of which was returned for a touchdown. Elko has passed for 454 yards in two games. His top threat is Travis Tarpley, who led the conference in all-purpose yards last season, and has 10 catches for 106 yards and one touchdown in the first two games.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (1-0): The Bearcats, picked to finish fourth in the watered-down Big East, received big efforts from Legaux and Winn against Pittsburgh. Legaux, a dual-threat who replaced the dependable Zach Collaros, was 14-of-28 for 205 yards and ran six times for a game-high 117 yards. Winn scored from 58 yards on the first play from scrimmage and finished with 95 yards on 11 carries. The latter has big shoes to fill after his predecessor, Isaiah Pead, earned Big East Player of the Year honors in 2011. The Bearcats’ defense figured to be stout with seven starters back, and it did nothing to dispel that notion in the opener. Cincinnati, which led the nation in tackles for loss last season (8.6 per game), had 10 tackles for loss against Pittsburgh.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Hornets haven’t had a winning season since 2007.

2. Bearcats’ sophomore all-purpose threat Ralph David Abernathy IV, who recorded 91 total yards and two touchdown catches against Pittsburgh, is the grandson of the late American Civil Rights movement leader.

3. Legaux completed only 47.7 percent of his attempts in five games while filling in for Collaros last season.