Purdue @ Cincinnati preview

Purdue and Cincinnati will usher in new eras Saturday when the visiting Boilermakers take on the Bearcats in the season opener for both teams. The game will mark the debuts for coaches Darrell Hazell of Purdue and Cincinnati's Tommy Tuberville. It is also the Bearcats' first game as a member of the new American Athletic Conference after spending eight seasons in the Big East.

Both teams had spirited quarterback competitions in fall camp, but only Hazell has named a starter - senior Rob Henry. Tuberville, meanwhile, is still deciding between seniors Brendon Kay and Munchie Legaux. Both will play against the Boilermakers, but Tuberville did not get more specific. "I haven’t made my mind up yet whether we’re gonna even let one of them know (who will start) by the time we get to the first game," he said during the first AAC coaches teleconference.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU. LINE: Cincinnati -10.5

ABOUT PURDUE (2012: 6-7, 3-5 Big Ten): Hazell, a former assistant at Ohio State who replaces the fired Danny Hope after two successful seasons at Kent State, made his first big decision in choosing Henry over freshmen Danny Etling and Austin Appleby (redshirt). For Henry, it marks a long road back after he started seven games in 2010 and led the Boilermakers in passing and rushing - a program first - before injuring his knee in 2011 and serving as a backup in 2012. He reclaims an offense that was just mediocre last season (28.7 points a game, 64th in FBS) but is expected to prominently feature explosive junior running back Akeem Hunt, who has averaged 8.3 yards per carry in limited action in his career.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (2012: 10-3, 5-2 Big East): The Bearcats, coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons as Big East co-champions, are expected to have a smooth transition to the AAC, where they were picked to finish second behind Louisville in the conference's preseason media poll. Tuberville brings a 130-77 career record from stints at Ole Miss, Auburn and Texas Tech and has 13 returning starters (seven offense, six defense) to rely on as he takes over for Butch Jones, who left for Tennessee. Kay (1,298 yards passing, 10 touchdowns, two interceptions) and Legaux (1,716, 13 TDs, nine INTs) saw time last season, and leading tackler Greg Blair is back at linebacker to man a defense the allowed 18.5 points per game (14th-best in FBS).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kay, a sixth-year senior, went 4-1 as a starter last season and was MVP of the Belk Bowl after replacing Legaux, who was 6-2 but dealt with accuracy issues.

2. It will be 26 games and 1,008 days since Henry, who moonlighted at running back and wide receiver last season, last started at quarterback.

3. The game is a sellout and has a chance to break the attendance record at 89-year-old Nippert Stadium (35,106 versus Illinois on Nov. 27, 2009).

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 31, Purdue 20