With Kiel hurt, UC will start Moore at QB

Gunner Kiel has started every University of Cincinnati football game at quarterback for the past two years, but that streak is about to end.

UC coach Tommy Tuberville said after Monday's practice that redshirt freshman Hayden Moore will start for the injured Kiel this week, with the Bearcats (2-2) playing host to the Miami Hurricanes (3-0) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Kiel, a junior, suffered a neck injury and was carted off the field in the first quarter of a 53-46 loss at Memphis last Thursday.

Kiel did not practice Monday, having not been cleared by UC doctors. Kiel, wearing a gray practice jersey and red shorts but no pads, did appear on the field toward the end of practice at UC's Sheakley Athletics Center facility.

"Hayden will be the guy going for sure, early," Tuberville said. "Now, I'm not counting Gunner out. If he doesn't practice (Tuesday), though, he won't be able to play."

UC spokesman Ryan Koslen said that no Bearcats quarterbacks were available for pre-game interviews this week, per Tuberville's wishes.

Moore replaced Kiel at Memphis and set a UC record with 557 yards passing, breaking the mark of 554 set by Bearcats great Greg Cook in a 1968 game. Moore also threw four touchdown passes against Memphis but was intercepted twice.

UC was listed early Monday as a 4 1/2-point underdog to Miami, with some lines jumping to 6 points by early evening.

Kiel was knocked out at Memphis after taking a hard hit to his head, and Tuberville said Kiel felt some numbness in his hands. X-rays came back negative.

Tuberville, speaking earlier Monday on the weekly American Athletic Conference coaches teleconference, noted that Kiel also departed UC's previous game with an injury against rival Miami University. Kiel suffered shoulder stiffness and soreness that week after his head hit the turf on a roughing-the-passer call, and his latest injury is also in the neck/shoulder area, Tuberville said.

"Two weeks in a row, it's the same injury, so the precaution is even going to be higher," Tuberville said. "We're looking out more for his health. Football is way on the back burner."

Tuberville is unclear on what to anticipate with Kiel.

"As we speak, he hasn't gotten to the point where he's gotten to me and the doctors said he can go," Tuberville said. "Last week it was more up to him, how do you feel? There was no damage. This week was clean on everything we looked at, but he's had two hard blows.

"First week, I let him make his decision. That was his week. This week is my week. Even if he comes back and says he's 100 percent, I'll make the decision on how much he'll play, if he plays at all."

Tuberville said he first will consult with doctors.

"If the doctors say he's cleared and he says he's cleared, then he's got to pass me," Tuberville said. "I've got to look him in the eye and really feel like he's ready to go. I'm not going to put him out there and get hit like that again. It's not worth it. I don't want to put him in any danger whatsoever."

For the season, Kiel is 70-for-111 passing (63.1 percent) for 868 yards, with five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Moore is 46-for-81 passing (56.8 percent) for 782 yards, with five touchdowns and four interceptions.

Last year, Kiel started every game but also left several games early with injuries. In his first year as starter, Kiel threw for 3,254 yards and tied a UC season record with 31 touchdown passes.

MORE INJURIES: UC running back Mike Boone (ankle) and wide receivers Johnny Holton and Chris Moore (lower leg injuries) also did not practice Monday. All are questionable this week.

BIG HOUSE: UC athletic director Mike Bohn said UC hopes for a sellout Thursday.

"Trending for the largest crowd in stadium history," Bohn said via text. "Tickets are still available."

The $86 million Nippert Stadium renovation included an expansion from 35,000 to 40,000 capacity. UC drew a Nippert record 39,095 for the reopening against Alabama A&M on Sept. 5, followed by 38,112 against Temple the next week.

FIGHT THE POWER: Tuberville's UC teams are 1-5 against Power Five opponents. The list:

2013

Purdue W 42-7

@Illinois L 45-27

#North Carolina L 39-17

#Belk Bowl

2014

@Ohio State L 50-28

@Miami, Fla. L 55-34

%Virginia Tech L 33-17

%Military Bowl

NOTE: In 2013, UC went 1-1 against current Power Five teams Rutgers (52-17 road win) and Louisville (31-24 home OT loss) when those schools played with UC in the AAC.

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Cincinnati vs. Miami, Fla.

Kickoff: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Nippert Stadium

TV/Radio: ESPN/WLW-AM (700)

Records: UC 2-2, Miami 3-0