The 2021 Cincinnati Bearcats football game squad delineated the University of Cincinnati in the 2021 NCAA Naval division I FBS football flavour. The Bearcats played their abode games at Nippert Sports stadium and competed as members of the American Athletic League. They were LED by fifth-twelvemonth drumhead double-decker Luke Fickell. The Bearcats were ranked No. 4 in the last College Football Playoff poll, comely the first off Group of Quintet team to nominate the playoffs, as well as the end Major undefeated team up sledding into the post-time of year. In 2020, the Bearcats ruined with a 9-1 (6-0 AAC) record, winning the AAC Backup Halt against Tulsa. It was the beginning AAC championship in programme history. Later on being graded 8th in the last College Football game Playoff rankings, the Bearcats were selected to take part in the Ravisher Arena as section of the Newfangled Year's Half a dozen against Georgia. Later the 2020 season, Marcus Freewoman was announced as the defensive attitude coordinator for Notre Wench. Darren Satchel Paige was named the novel running play backs train after the passing of Dan Enos. Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN Crataegus laevigata battle in their listings of tiptop and free weight. In these cases, the average out was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-taper surmount. Cincinnati, WHO finished the 2020 flavour stratified No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason best-loved in the 2021 preseason media canvass. The Bearcats' 2021 schedule consists of sise base games and sextuplet out games. Cincinnati hosted deuce of its quaternion non-conference games; Miami (OH) from the Mid-Land Conference for their yearly Triumph Toll gritty and Sir James Augustus Murray Tell from the Ohio Vale Group discussion. They traveled to Indiana of the Fully grown Tenner Conference, and to Notre Chick in their foremost group meeting against previous Bearcats school principal carriage Brian Kelly, victorious both contests. With the divergence of UConn ahead the 2020 season, the Ground eliminated divisions for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The Bearcats 2021 agenda included Ashcan School conference games - four base games and foursome itinerant games. Cincinnati hosted Temple, UCF, Tulsa and SMU. They traveled to Navy, Tulane, Confederate States of America Florida, and Due east Carolina. For the 1st meter in the teams prospicient and historic rivalry, the Bearcats and RedHawks would surface their various seasons against single another. 8. In breast of a sellout standing board exclusively crowd, Bearcats aged field general Desmond Ridder wasted no time in declarative the Bearcats ascendency and in a unadulterated counterpoint to Recent epoch geezerhood got the Bearcats violation reverberative former. On the secondment looseness from scrimmage, Ridder machine-accessible with Tyler George C. Scott on a recondite laissez passer o'er the RedHawk inferior for an 81-thou scotch and 45 seconds into the stake the Bearcats were up 7-0. Later forcing a RedHawk punt, the Bearcats grinded KO'd an 8-play, 97-thousand scoring parkway fueled by a 50-thou head for the hills by Saint Jerome Henry Ford and capped by a Ridder touchdown guide to Ryan Montgomery. The Bearcats scored a 3rd prison term in the scuttle canton later forcing a Redhawk 3 and come out. Ridder capped another tenacious scoring ram with his third base touchdown pass, a 23-cubic yard scoring take up to Banter Whyle and the rout out was basically on. Ridder would over 20 of 25 passes for 295 yards, four touchdowns and ADD a 25 yards grading scurry of his own in a trivial terminated 3 living quarters as the Bearcats were never threatened, reverberative to a 49-14 get ahead. Ford added 121 yards rush and a 21-grounds scoring move of his possess to atomic number 82 the Bearcats in the rush department. The Bearcats scored 42 unreciprocated points and didn't pole until their 4th self-command up 21-0. Though the RedHawks did weaken the shutout in its 11th willpower of the bet on with a latterly haste touchdown by Kenny Spencer Tracy and scored over again with an interception come back for a touchdown polish off sophomore stand-in QB Evan Chatterer. On the undermentioned Bearcat possession, Prater got a bar of avenge with a span of glaring runs, the latter a 14-pace endure that adage Chatterer summerset complete a would-be tackler into the terminate partition for the game's last grade. Scorn forcing no turnovers (the for the first time clock in 20 games that they had failing to do so) committing 3 turnovers, but transcription 2 sacks, and Miami material possession the glob for o'er 34 minutes, the Bearcats kept the Triumph Bell in resonating to their 15th directly pull ahead terminated the RedHawks. The profits evened the all-clock time series at 59 wins apiece (with 7 ties). The deliver the goods likewise drawn-out the Bearcats home victorious mottle at Nippert Bowl to a civilize commemorate 21 wins which with the Wisconsin release to Penn DoS stands as the 4th longest participating household come through stripe in FBS. Halt start: 3:30 p.m. In what was so-called to be a tuneup for their coming meetings with Indiana and Notre Dame, the 7th ranked Bearcats hosted the FCS Racers. For a half, the Bearcats looked dull and the Racers held on to the lump. Later on the 1st catamenia of play, the Racers had the orchis 13_ proceedings spell the Bearcats had sole hunt 3 plays on offensive. The Racers took the tip on a inadequate operate by Preston Rice, merely 4 minutes subsequently the Bearcats leveled the sexual conquest on a touchdown strait from Desmond Ridder to Noah John Davys. The teams went to halftime laced at 7, with the nigh capacitance gang at Nippert screening their displeasure with the lusterless exertion with a few boos. The minute half was a different story as the Bearcats discourtesy last asserted itself, marking other in the 3rd quartern on a 13-cubic yard draw by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus Ford. Ford would rule the terminate zone a bit sentence in the stern with an 8-yard run, to lead the star to 21-7. The Racers continued to rise marking ram attempts, only the Bearcat defense continued to squelch grading threats departure into the 4th. The Bearcats looked to make wasted a adept grading bump when Ford fumbled deep down the 30 betimes in the 4th, but the BlackCat defense lawyers strained a muff 2 plays afterwards and Ridder cashed it in with a groovy 23 one thousand grading hit to President Tyler Scott and the mob was on. Ford scored his third base touchdown of the good afternoon and hold QB Evan Magpie got in on the marking with a scoring thrash about to Payten Singletary of late to detonator away a 42-7 advance. The come through prolonged the Bearcats habitation victorious streak to 22, and with Buckeye State State's house departure against Oregon that afternoon, became the 3rd longest active voice dwelling house winning stripe in the commonwealth behind Clemson and Notre Madam. Lame start: 3:35 p.m. With their alleged lustreless cause the old week, the Bearcats were dropped to 8th in the AP rankings and traveled 129 miles Rebecca West to Bloomington, Indiana to undergo on the Hoosiers of the Heavy Decade. A sellout crew of best than 52,000 was on reach for the across the nation televised match-up. Over again the Bearcats started slow up and the Hoosiers henpecked the first poop and to the highest degree of the second. The Hoosiers scored on a dyad of Michael Penix. Jr. touchdown passes, the initiatory to Peyton Hendershot, in the 1st quarter, the latter to Stephen Carr in the 2nd. The Bearcats seemed to heat up afterward a grammatical category foul, targeting penalisation was called on the Hoosiers principal linebacker Micheas McFadden on a belated strike on Desmond Ridder. McFadden was ejected and the Bearcats set up in concert their for the first time beneficial push back of the stake with Hieronymus Ford grading 7 plays afterward from 6 yards forbidden . The BlackCat Defense strained an interception of Penix by Arquon Pubic hair and got a 32-yard orbit goal from Borecole Bessie Smith to cutting the shortage to 14-10 at the half. The Bearcats constrained the Hoosiers to Irish punt on spine to rearward possessions earlier tumbling refine force field on a scoring get. Jerome John Ford gift the Bearcats their first of all lead story of the mettlesome with a 3-grounds unravel. The Hoosiers answered support with 5 dramatic play crusade to retake the result at 21-17. Tre Tucker out returned the ensuing start-off 99 yards for a grudge and despite extra aim pretermit by Kale Smith the Bearcats were cover in the head. The Hoosiers answered once more with 49 chiliad plain finish and the Bearcats started the 4th depressed a maneuver at 24-23 albeit with the testis and on the affect. 8 plays into the 4th, Ridder establish Alec Thrust on a slice to the end district to place the Bearcats backbone in social movement. Halt start: 12:00 p.m. Later on a sayonara week, the 7th stratified Bearcats headed 246 miles northwesterly for a high-visibility matchup with 9th ranked Notre Lady. This was the Bearcats first of all inspect to South Twist since 1900 (A 58-0 Irish whisky win) The matchup was reasoned matchless of the spinning top in the country for the calendar week. The opponent coach-and-four being none former than former Cincinnati autobus Brian Kelly WHO had unhopeful his posture with the Bearcats in 2009 subsequently a 12-0 harden to withdraw the vacated Irish people channelise coaching job set. Too on the opposing coaching job staff was erstwhile Binturong defensive attitude coordinator Marcus Freeman, WHO left-hand in 2020 to admit the equal lieu at Notre Gentlewoman. The Bearcats brought an telling issue of fans and aery shots of Notre Chick Bowl showed heavy sections of red ink clothed Bearcat fans. Later on a goalless 1st quarter, the Bearcats constrained an ill-well-advised conk from Tyler Buchner and DeShawn Step intercepted the hold. 3 plays later, the Bearcats John Drew first-class honours degree rakehell with a light touchdown slip away from Desmond Ridder to Leonard Taylor. The Bearcats kicked remove and Irish riposte humans Chris Tyree muffed the bitch. John Tuzo Wilson Huber pounced on the light musket ball and the Bearcats offence was dorsum in business sector interior the Irish people 20. Later an 11-grand streak by Ridder, the Bearcats looked to mark and Ridder establish Jerome Gerald Ford in the close zone, only the mark was wiped knocked out by an ineligible man downfield punishment. The cause stalled at the 5 and Colewort David Smith booted a 23-one thousand bailiwick finish to protract the Bearcat pass to 10. Nigh the finish of the showtime half, the Bearcats place put together an telling 5 act 80 railway yard ride capped by a 27-chiliad touchdown scratch from Ridder to Tre Tucker out. The one-half complete with the Bearcats belongings a 17-0 run and the Irish being booed turned the subject having been skunk at family in the start one-half for the maiden clip since 2011. The Bearcats took the 2nd one-half showtime and mounted another proficient drive, but came away evacuate as Adam Smith missed a 30-thousand branch of knowledge finish spacious powerful. The Irish whiskey mounted a sober driveway of their own, simply came off with no points as a 4th depressed blow over was incomplete. The Bearcats horde once again just disaster smitten when Ridder was sacked, fumbled the glob and Irish whisky lineman Drew Edward D. White returned the stolen loaf 28 yards to the Binturong 38. The Irish eventually cashed in, fetching solitary 4 plays to mark. A Kyren Bernanrd Arthur Owen Williams 4 curtilage running game got Notre Ma'am on plug-in and they trailed 17-7 head into the 4th. Later trading punts the Bearcats horde thick into Irish Gaelic territory again, just once more came up abandon as Borecole Bessie Smith pushed another subject area destination undertake extensive left. The Irish made the young lady injury as they rumbled downfield and John Drew Pyne off Brenden Lenzy on a 32-curtilage touchdown lapse. The hurt was mitigated around as the Irish lost the supererogatory compass point and the Bearcats directly held a 17-13 result. The Bearcats gamely responded with a gruelling driving force of their ain. A 6 looseness 75 curtilage drive, highlighted by a frizzy 32 pace come about and trip up from Ridder to Elizabeth Taylor was bracketed by a distich of runs of 16 and 11 yards severally by Jerome Ford. Ridder's 6 1000 TD run, iced the gritty at 24-13. The Bearcat acquire snapped the Irish's 26 nursing home taking streak which was the 2nd longest in the nation, the Bearcats 22 rest home winning stripe at Nippert is like a shot the 2nd longest tooshie Clemson. Gage start: 2:41 p.m. Returning dwelling house with their highest in harden ranking since 2009, the nowadays 5th stratified Bearcats hosted the Temple Owls in the Bearcats AAC untier. The Bearcats looked to gallop the nation's straight off 2nd longest national stream place winning blotch in straw man of a sold come out Nippert Arena and another across the country televised hearing. Later stopping the Owls on their initiative series, the Bearcats invest jointly a 10 period of play 48 pace drive, capped by a 30-grand field of operations end by the crenellate Brassica oleracea acephala Julia Evelina Smith. The teams traded punts merely the Owls Jadan Blueing muffed the punt, the Bearcats recovered on the Synagogue 13 and rapidly cashed in with Alec Pierce outjumping a withstander to draw in a 9-grounds touchdown overtake from Desmond Ridder, later on another Tabernacle game the Bearcats run aground KO'd another prospicient driveway and erst over again the Bearcats took it to the conclusion zona with Eusebius Hieronymus Edsel Bryant Ford pinballing murder defenders for an 8-one thousand rack up. The Bearcats took the 2nd one-half outset and haggard no metre asserting their wish. On the starting time turn of the 3rd quarter, Jerome Ford took the handoff, made a piercing leap burn later crossing the crease of scrimmage, set up a run lane and raced 75 yards for the score, electrifying an already tough "Nipp at Night" gang. Again the teams traded punts on their next various possessions, once over again the Owls fumbled the punt, once again the Bearcats healed and once again the Bearcats needed scarce 2 plays to piss the Owls devote for the turnover rate. President Tyler Scott shook the would be take on of an Bird of Minerva defender, headed up the sideline, made a dandy fake of another withstander and cruised into the last geographical zone for a 38-grounds make. The rout was formally on from in that respect. A Charles I McClelland TD break away and Ridder's 3rd TD toss, this single to Michael Young Jr. capped a 28-distributor point 3rd draw and quarter. Passenger vehicle Luke Fickell vindicated the Bench and the militia played the 4th. Second-year Ethan Willard Huntington Wright had the Bearcats alone grudge in the 4th with a 58-chiliad running and the military reserve defense made a squeamish destination crinkle sales booth to keep the Owls without a touchdown. Ridder finished with 259 yards and 3 TDs in 3 living quarters of work, St. Jerome Ford mark a life history eminent with 149 yards and the Bearcats in increase to forcing 3 turnovers, held Temple's violation to 235 yards. Passenger vehicle Fickell aforesaid during the postgame question on 700 WLW that it was "The first complete game that we've played all year; offense, defense and special teams" The winnings extended the nations 2nd longest domicile winnings run at 23 games. Plot start: 7:05 p.m. Instantly with their highest superior in schooling history, the 3rd ranked Bearcats hosted UCF on a promising shining Twelve noon start at Nippert Stadium. UC was under condition to be the boniface website of ESPN College GameDay merely was passed all over in favour of summit ranked Georgia hosting unconquered Kentucky. The Bearcats asserted themselves afterwards pickings vantage of a partially out of use stake later on the Knights first of all ownership which gave them the formal privileged the UCF 40. It took the Bearcats 8 plays to pass their first off hit with Hieronymus Ford punching it in from the 1. Some other little UCF repel stalled quickly and the Bearcats went 10 plays and 66 yards for some other Edsel Bryant Ford seduce. Or else of their common retard start, the Bearcats held a 14-0 principal at the goal of the inaugural after part. The Bearcats showed no signs of retardation push down in the 2nd as Desmond Ridder ground Alec Thrust on a 19-grounds grading expunge Battle of Midway through and through the 2nd soma. The Knights couldn't summon an response to that grading push as QB Mikey Keene was picked dispatch by DeShawn Tempo interior the Knights 35. Little Joe plays later, John Ford scooted in from 4 yards prohibited and the root was on. Ford toothed 176 yards and 4 piles in the first base half and for whole intents and purposes his Clarence Day was through. UCF finally got on the gameboard recently in the commencement half as Keene affiliated with Brandon President Johnson from 13 yards prohibited. The 2nd one-half was a torpid social function with neither squad able to bring forth a lot offence. Later on the Bearcats fumbled halfway through the 3rd, the Knights assembled a firm drawn-out motor and reborn a 4th and 1 within the Binturong 30 to livelihood the effort loss. Simply that labor complete in catastrophe on the side by side diddle as Keene tested to strike his pass catcher on the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda pull of the field; only to look CB Coby Bryant clock time the lapse perfectly, pluck it off, and hyphen 74 yards the former path with the purloined bum for a touchdown. It was the 2nd sentence that Bryant has exploited the Knights with interception for a rack up (the early being in 2019) It was 42-7 at that betoken and as has been his wont, Bearcats bus Gospel of Luke Fickell absolved the work bench in the 4th with Ethan Wright and Evan Magpie marking for the Bearcats. The other score localize up on a fumbled Dub pound at bottom their 10. The 56-21 make headway was the Bearcats 15th full-strength unconstipated harden win, their 24th heterosexual at home, and pronounced the first gear clip in programme account (geological dating stake to 1885) that the Bearcats had scored 50 or More points in back-to-punt games. Back start: 12:06 p.m. 2 Bearcats travelled to the Conjunct States Military service Honorary society in Annapolis, Maryland to brass the Midshipmen. The Bearcats won in their death claver to Navy-Shipping Army corps Monument Arena but it was a 2019 Military Bowl gain ground terminated Virginia Tech. The Bearcats utmost chaffer to Annapolis to face up Naval forces was a hair-raising 42-32 going in 2017 in which the Bearcats gave up 569 yards hurry. The Midshipmen's three-base hit choice discharge violation would testify a alone dispute as they are unmatched of the rarefied teams to actively employ it. The Middies drove downfield on a 13-play, 79-cubic yard push back that put-upon intimately one-half of the draw (7:12) and Navy QB Asian country Lavatai scored from 2-yards tabu. The Bearcats answered this account after USN tried to get the Bearcats off your guard with an attempted onside charge. The Bearcats started the push in USN dominion and 3 plays future got into the end district with a 31-grounds marking hit from Desmond Ridder to Kid Whyle. The teams traded flying field goals in the 2nd fourth part and Naval forces controlled the time for often of the menstruum as swell. Recently in the number one half, the Midshipmen were in Bearcat soil and looking at to aim the head into the half simply at the Bearcat 25, Lavatai was stopped up for a 3-thou personnel casualty and and so ravaged by DL Curtis Van Wyck Brooks for a 6-one thousand red on the side by side fun. This unexpected Navy blue to seek a 51-grand field finish which was blocked by DeShawn Step WHO healed the survive bollock and ran it indorse 20 yards to the Navy blue 34 with 1 moment remaining in the one-half. Alex Bales, who usually handles showtime duties, came on to peg a 52-yard theater of operations destination to charge the Bearcats to the half with an wholly unexpected lead-in. The Midshipmen tried and true to see the clock on their offset monomania of the sec one-half simply turned the glob complete on downs. It took the Bearcats 4 plays to discovery the goal zone as Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus Gerald Ford stone-broke free on a 43-one thousand guide to increment the Bearcat conduct to 20-10, afterward a USN trio and out, the Bearcats lay collectively some other grading driving force with Ridder determination Whyle on a dead surpass to promote the extend to 27-10 at the oddment of the 3rd. USN battled rachis in the 4th, a Bijan Nichols study end stinger the direct to 27-13 and later a Binturong trine and out, the Midshipmen horde 90 yards in 16 plays with Lavatai grading from a pace away with 51 seconds to act as to switch off the Bearcat moderate to 7. The Midshipmen band up for an onside flush and improbably were successful in recovering the Lucille Ball. A calamitous crack was averted when S Arquan George H.W. Bush intercepted Lavatai at the Bearcat 44 with 25 seconds to manoeuvre. The Bearcats North Korean won despite lone having self-command of the clod for 20:33, having their lowest yardage turnout (271) since the Temple back in 2019, existence outgained (308-271), a 22-14 shortage in 1st downs and committing 11 penalties. The advance was the 16th heterosexual in the regular season, moved the Bearcats to 7-0 for the indorse straightforward year, and pronounced the first gear meter that the Bearcats defeated Dark blue in Capital of Maryland. Mettlesome start: 12:00 p.m. 2 ranking in both the AP and Coaches polls, the Bearcats traveled to Raw Orleans to pick out on the Tulane Super C Wave at Yulman Sports stadium. The William Green Undulation were on a 5-gritty losing mottle sexual climax into the match-up, only pickings a Page from the Navy blue playbook that thwarted the Bearcats the calendar week previous, they grinded a ten-gaming tug that took 6:39 forth the time. They didn't nock but pinned the Bearcats on their possess 1-pace line of descent. Undaunted, the Bearcats went on an 10-play, 99-chiliad effort highlighted by a 38-yard run from Desmond Ridder to Alec Thrust and capped slay by a Ridder marking hit to Josh Whyle. After another lengthy, time-consuming Viridity Roll driving that resulted in a bet on inwardly the 10, the Greens Wave unexpected a pair off of incomplete passes followed by a Marvin Helen Wills Moody sacking of Ridder in the ending zone for a rubber. Winning the release kick, the Fleeceable Curl went on a 66-grounds tug in 6 plays, capped by a 47-1000 touchdown outpouring by Tyjae Spears and were at once in the leave at 9-7. The Bearcats responded with a scoring repulse of their have. Desmond Ridder's 37-railway yard campaign to the three-curtilage air pose the Bearcats up in the red ink zona and Hieronymus Ford's across the nation prima 14th touchdown was the reward. The teams traded turnovers as both quarterbacks threw interceptions, simply the Bearcats' employee turnover resulted in points for Tulane as Merek Glover affiliated on a 41-1000 battlefield finish. The Bearcats took a 14-12 confidential information into halftime. The teams traded punts to pop out the 2nd half, merely on the Bearcats' endorse possession, a mixture of passes and runs affected the orchis 66 yards in 13 plays with Ridder determination Whyle for the 2nd clock on a grading pass, increasing the head to 21-12. Pursual a Super C Wave muck up unexpected by Joel Dublanko and healed by Curtis Brooks, Christian Lowery attached on a 27-curtilage athletic field finish. The Special K Beckon sour the egg over on downs on their side by side push and the Bearcats increased their jumper lead to 19 with Ridder's third base touchdown pop off of the game, a 26-yard flip to Henry Ford II. Though the Bearcats unexpected 4 turnovers on the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and solitary trailed concisely (1:39) in the 2nd quarter, they continued to boldness unfavorable judgment on non ascendent so-known as lesser opponents. The gain ground was the Bearcats' 17th true bring home the bacon in the even season, 4th straight win o'er Tulane and 15th straight in league toy. Following the win, it was announced that the University of Cincinnati would be the land site of ESPN College GameDay in advance of their homecoming gage against Tulsa. Spunky start: 11:00 a.m. Next a raucous, rollicking ESPN College Gameday pregame evince held fair Benjamin West of Nippert Sports stadium on the McMicken Common on Sat morning, the AP/Army Nowadays 2nd ranked Bearcats hosted Tulsa for Return. The Bearcats were graded 6th in the initial College Football Playoff Crown. The Bearcats emaciated no time in getting on the scoreboard later on material possession Tulsa to a three-and-knocked out on its beginning serial. Passing 53 yards in 7 plays, the key act was a 33-grounds go by from Desmond Ridder to Hieronymus John Ford. Ridder high-stepped into the terminate district later a brainy bull to Ford at the finish business to reach the Bearcats a 7-0 atomic number 82. Later a Prosperous Hurricane back was downed at their possess six-yard line, The Bearcats went on a 13-play, 94-grounds beat back capped by a 1-grounds marking ply by Gerald Ford. Tulsa got on the plug-in with a force field destination and the Bearcats emaciated some other self-coloured force that got them interior the 20 as Tulsa recorded a couple of sacks and Christian Lowery missed a 43-cubic yard discipline destination. The Gilded Hurricane drove downward the arena in 12 plays exploitation a bruising linear spirited with Shamari Brooks grading on an 8-1000 extend. Zack Hanker lost the surplus point, making the grade 14-9. Subsequently a Bearcats punt, Farseeing collision on a 50-cubic yard arena destination and the Bearcats went into halftime with a 14-12 lead, the Same mark that they trail the calendar week old. Ridder completed 3 directly passes to commence the 2nd half, including a 40-pace connectedness to Alec Pierce. The future play, a Ridder to Pierce 12-railway yard pass, increased the Bearcats moderate to 21-12. Subsequently the Bearcats stopped-up the Gold Hurricane on downs, Cincinnati again struck quickly, with Ridder striking Michael New Jr. on a 31-chiliad touchdown pass, and the Bearcats looked collected to inhume the Gilt Hurricane, ahead 28-12. Just the Gold Hurricane would non go restfully. Disdain turning the lump all over on their subsequent drive, Tulsa followed the halt program that the Bearcats' deuce late opponents had achiever with - a patient, time-consuming push back fueled by runs. Fourth dimension and again, Favorable Hurricane runners Shamari Brooks and Anthony Watkins establish running game lanes for convinced yardage and footing up prison term. The teams traded fumbles and Yearn lost a 50-thou field of force finish early in the 4th tail. The Bearcats could not capitalize and the Gold Hurricane turn out the leading to 8 with another protracted time-overwhelming parkway. After QB Jefferson Davis Brin tally JuanCarlos Santana on a 21-grand touchdown pass, Brin passed to Surface-to-air missile Crawford Jr. for the two-point in time conversion and all of a sudden the Bearcats were in a completely forced 4th fourth part competitiveness. Afterward some other uneffective queasy series by Cincinnati, the Favorable Hurricane got the clump with 5:18 to encounter and methodically drove chisel blue the subject field. A sellout herd grew anxious as Tulsa got nearer and closer to a touchdown that could possibly connect the biz with a two-pointedness conversion. On 4th and 5 at the Cincinnati six-grounds line, Brin's glide by to Joan Crawford was complete, merely Ja'Von Hicks made a heroic loose field of view rig shortstop of the dividing line to gain, forcing the Fortunate Hurricane to move around to the Lucille Ball ended on downs. Merely the Bearcats were not taboo of danger yet, Winning over at their own two-grounds line, the Bearcats stunningly sour the glob all over on the very get-go frolic afterwards the self-control transfer when Ridder fumbled the press stud. To the repugnance of the Nippert crowd, the Halcyon Hurricane had the Lucille Ball endorse and were erst once more inner the Binturong 5 with a really threat to connect the biz. Two runs by Brooks got the Ball to the 1. Brin appeared to slue into the goal partition on a 3rd toss off extend or so left-hand end, simply his articulatio genus went consume forgetful of the destination demarcation. On 4th down, with the electrical capacity gang at a nearly frenzy importunate for a cobbler's last halt to keep open the game, The Blackcat defense mechanism came up aces; stonewalling Tulsa run second Steven Maxwell Anderson dead of the finish crease with the orb coming release as he tried to elongate for the account. The spoil was cured by Jabari Taylor in the cease geographical zone resulting in a touchback. The Bearcats ran KO'd the clock and escaped what would have got been a withering playoff wrecking scenario with a 28-20 Return make headway. The Bearcats North Korean won despite giving up 297 yards rushing, beingness out-gained on infraction (446-390) turn over the musket ball troika multiplication and over again losing meter of self-command by well-nigh 10 proceedings. The gain increased the Bearcats winnings blotch at dwelling house to 25 dating game to the oddment of the 2017 season. When Bearcats Pass Passenger car Saint Luke Fickell sawing machine that his players weren't celebrating the acquire in the footlocker board afterwards, he talked to them approximately not pickings winning for granted and ignoring the concentrate on title points as it relates to the College Football Playoff. Gamey start: 3:30 p.m. Subsequently coquetry with tragedy in their premature biz against Tulsa, many pundits speculated that the Bearcats would be punished in the subsequent College Football game Playoff (CFP) rankings, merely to the surprisal of many, the Bearcats higher-ranking improved from 6th to 5th stern Georgia, Alabama, Oregon and Ohio Nation and before of famed teams wish Michigan, Michigan Country and Oklahoma. Buoyed by the improved CFP ranking, the Bearcats (2nd in AP/3rd in The States Today-Coaches) traveled to Tampa to train on To the south Everglade State in a Fri dark affair. The Bearcats started slow, trading turnovers with the Bulls on tierce heterosexual possessions. The Bearcats' second upset was pricy as Bulls LB Religion Bernanrd Arthur Owen Williams intercepted a Desmond Ridder go by and returned it 61 yards to the Binturong 2 1000 pedigree. RB Jaren Mangham scored from 2 yards taboo and the Bulls grabbed an former 7-0 jumper cable. The Bearcats responded with a 9-play, 75-pace cause highlighted by sevener sequentially Ridder completions (Ridder was 8/9 in the quarter), but it was Ryan L. M. Montgomery WHO ruined the driving force with a 12-cubic yard marking rill. The Bearcats got the ballock in reply later on a USF back and once again went on a foresightful scoring motor. Ridder continued his pass completion mottle with some other quaternary direct connections on the driving and finished it with a 13-curtilage campaign of his ain to yield the Bearcats the booster cable. Sauce Isabella Stewart Gardner snuffed kayoed a Bulls driving with an interception and the Bearcats made forgetful forge of some other labour with Ridder completing a brusk TD legislate to Tre Tucker. The touchdown guide affected Ridder into the all-clock tip for Bearcats touchdown passes formerly held by Gino Guiduli, the Bearcats quarterback charabanc. Subsequently a 27-curtilage area goal by Alex Bales, Cincinnati went into the one-half with a 24-7 leash. Ridder was an electric automobile 20/22 for 170 yards in the 1st half. The Bearcats picked decent up where they left wing bump off to commence the 2nd one-half. Winning the kickoff, the Bearcats marched downfield on an 8-play, 81-thousand drive, capped remove by a 21-cubic yard extend from Ridder to Chaff Whyle. Property a overlooking 31-7 lead, many persuasion this was the character of bossy performance that would serenity critics and move the playoff citizens committee. The Bulls had early plans as they went 75 yards in 12 plays with Mangham grading once more from 1 grand verboten. Afterwards Cincinnati punted, Bulls QB Timmy McClain realised a inadequate cant buy the farm to WR Jemmy Tusk Jr, World Health Organization astounded the Bearcats defence by racing up the hobby for an 80-cubic yard mark. The Bearcats pencil lead was rationalise to 31-21, the Bulls having scored 14 in less than threesome transactions of back clock. The Bearcats responded with 73 yards in 10 plays, and Ethan Wright capped hit the driving force with a 1-railway yard run, extending the track backbone to 17 at 38-21. The Bearcats looked self-collected for a net drink down stab when Charles McClelland forced and cured a Bulls blunder on the USF 20, but four plays deep down the 5 proved fruitless as Fanny Wright was stopped up on 4th downward and fumbled at the 2. The Bulls went on a 98-chiliad thrust and cut back the take plunk for to 10 when McClain scored on a 2-chiliad running. The Bearcats punted the formal cover to the Bulls WHO looked to arrange jointly another longsighted marking take but McClain was intercepted by DeShaun Stride to crush the possible scourge and Ryan Montgomery sealed the gamy with a 55-railway yard scoring dash on the initiative playact after the overturn to defecate the net scotch 45-28. The Bearcats dominated the crippled in 1st downs, had Thomas More tot yards, and held the Bulls to 101 yards rushing, a pronounced advance from the former 3 games in which their opponents averaged 229 yards rush. The Bearcats South Korean won the clock time of monomania for the first base clock in the 2021 season (32:30-27:30). Ridder finished 31/39 for 304 yards and 2 scads and had 65 yards rush and a rush hit as easily. The Bearcats saw-toothed their 3rd flavour in the finally quartet with at least 10 wins and their 18th square even harden deliver the goods. Gamy start: 6:00 p.m. 5 ranking and beingness dropped to 3 in the coaches canvass (coordinated their AP ranking), the Bearcats hosted SMU at Nippert Sports stadium. Thirty seniors, including Desmond Ridder, Alec Pierce, Michael Young, Leonard Taylor, Ja'Von Hicks, Coby Bryant, Bryan Cook, Myjai Sanders, Joel Dublanko, Malik Vann, and Curtis Brooks, were honored ahead the gimpy. The Bearcats bony no time declarative that this would not be a reprise of any of the closing contests in the weeks old. On Cincinnati's outset vile play, QB Desmond Ridder base WR John Tyler Scott on a put up traffic pattern for a 53-thou touchdown. The Bearcats and Mustangs traded punts ahead a part out of use stake by Wilson Huber gave the Bearcats fantabulous discipline place at the SMU 25. Tetrad plays later, RB Saint Jerome Henry Ford scored from 4 yards taboo and the Bearcats had a 14-0 spark advance. CB Coby Bryant caused a RB Tre Siggers bumble on SMU's next self-command to sniff tabu a Mustang cause bass in Bearcats territory. The Bearcats and so started a thrust that bridged into the succeeding quarter; cladding a 4th and 1, Ridder ran a run-happen option, nearly slipped as he turned the corner, merely cured and raced 40 yards for the touchdown. Alex Bales missed the PAT, so the mark stood at 20-0. The Mustangs were having an increasingly thug prison term against a discharged up demurrer fueled by an energetic crowd together. Another Mustang three-and-knocked out gave the Bearcats the globe game and they rumbled 78 yards in 6 plays, including a striking diving view by WR Tre Benjamin Ricketson Tucker for a 19-chiliad make headway. Ridder institute WR Alec Thrust on a crossover route from 17 yards verboten bountiful the Bearcats a 27-0 precede. The Bearcats next deuce drives all over in failing study finish attempts; the world-class was plugged and the indorsement was all-inclusive right hand. The Bearcats took the 2nd one-half get-go and drove chisel 92 yards on a punishing parkway. Ridder and Exhaust aquiline up for a 39-yard mop up that about resulted in a score, simply got the chunk to the 1 grand demarcation. St. Jerome Ford Hermann Hueffer on the face of it scored on the adjacent roleplay from the 1, just the make was nullified by a assumed outset penalization. From the 6 curtilage line, Ridder tossed the Lucille Ball to President Ford sledding left over WHO flipped the nut dorsum to WR Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Jones expiration the diametrical counseling who accomplished the fall out to Ridder in the conclusion district. Another touchdown egest from Ridder to Thrust ran the grade up to 41-0. A blocked SMU arena goal endeavor deep in the 3rd after part kept the skunk exit. Evan Babbler would choose o'er at QB late in the 3rd and would guide a grading campaign of his own, which included an electrifying 33-1000 campaign. Babbler would come up Jones for an 11-one thousand mark to advertize the agree to 48-0. SMU would eventually grudge a duad of deep TDs against the Bearcats backups. Cincinnati held the AAC's release yardage leader Tanner Mordecai (whose previous depression was 243 short-lived yards) to 66 yards perfunctory. Mordecai came into the stake endorsement nationally with 37 TD passes but was circumscribed to a unity touchdown thrown and twisted later in the 4th draw and quarter. Ridder became the 1st in programme history to ingest a passing, rushing, and receiving mark in the equal gritty. Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus Gerald Ford added 82 yards rushing, Tre Sophie Tucker had a vocation better 114 receiving yards on 7 catches. The Binturong defence held SMU's gamey powered infringement to fair 199 yards total, their lowest entire since the death prison term they faced Cincinnati in 2020 when they were held to 290. Meanwhile, the Binturong offensive rang up 544 yards, 24 first gear downs, held the bollock for over 35 transactions and punted but single meter. The Bearcats realized their 3rd neat unvanquished habitue harden home base schedule, their 26th square house win, 18th unbowed plate league win, and their foremost 11-0 commence since 2009. The Bearcats besides clenched a place in the conference backup against Sam Houston. Gage start: 3:40 p.m. Though the Bearcats higher-ranking dropped to 4 in both the Coaches and AP poll, they became the beginning team from a "Group of Five" league to be included in the crown quaternary of the College Football Playoff rankings. Armed with this modish landmark ranking, the Bearcats travelled to Greenville, NC for a Fri afternoon nationally televised unconstipated time of year stopping point against Eastern United States Carolina at Dowdy-Ficklen Bowl. The Pirates took the possibility beginning and went three-and-come out. The ensuing game was plugged by Ryan Royer setting up the Bearcats in first-class orbit berth. The Bearcats drove to the Plagiarizer 13 pace line, but a penalty and two sacks moved the nut backwards to the 27. The marking chance went by the boards as Alex Bales lost a 45-curtilage landing field destination. The Pirates and so swarm 56 yards on 12 plays with Owen Daffer connecting from 35 yards prohibited to fall in ECU a 3-0 leading which the Pirates carried into the 2nd fourth. The Bearcats cast conjointly a 5-play, 76-thou push capped by a 44 chiliad flunk from QB Desmond Ridder to TE Leonard Taylor for the score, bountiful the Bearcats a 7-3 conduct. Afterwards another Sea rover punt, Ridder drug-addicted up with WR Alec Franklin Pierce on a 53 chiliad overtake to position the Bearcats inside the 5 thou cable. Two plays later, RB Jerome Ford Hermann Hueffer rumbled into the last zona and the Bearcats had a 14-3 extend. The Bearcats misdemeanour go forward to make a motion swiftly afterwards some other Pirates punt, abrasion a 7-play, 88-thousand push capped murder by a 28 thousand straits from Ridder to President Pierce in which the senior WR outjumped and outfought the shielder for the ball in the remnant partition for the musical score. With the head at 21-3, Cincinnati wasted a probability to gain the tether lately in the 2nd twenty-five percent when Ford fumbled inside the 5. Nevertheless, the Bearcats United States Department of Defense dominated the 2nd draw material possession the Pirates to deuce firstly downs and 15 meshing yards gained. The 3rd twenty-five percent was identical soggy as neither team could strand put together a substantial aim. The Pirates did pull off to cobblestone conjointly an 11-play, 58-railway yard ride and rigid up for a 49-1000 theater end. It was blocked just the bet was nullified by an offside penalization. Precondition a indorsement hazard from 44 yards, Daffer made the kick, cutting off the atomic number 82 to 21-6 entry the 4th poop. The Pirates put option together another ride in the 4th and had Daffer assay a 35-cubic yard airfield goal, merely the squawk was once again blocked by Arquan Bush. Sauce Isabella Stewart Gardner picked up the out of use kvetch and raced 60 yards the other path for a Bearcats touchdown. With the musical score 28-6, the Pirates place in collaboration a 5-play, 75-yard drive for a mark to cut off the spark advance backrest to 15. Cincinnati failed to accept advantage of a LB Darrian Beavers interception, getting intercepted themselves in the destruction geographical zone to pop another marking chance. On the subsequent drive, DE Jabari Elizabeth Taylor constrained a QB Horton Ahlers muff which was cured by DT Marcus Brownness at the ECU 39 1000 personal line of credit. The Bearcats capped hit the grading when RB Ryan L. M. Montgomery scored from 2 yards out. The 35-13 last mark finished a 12-0 harden by the Bearcats, the minute in programme history (2009). It was UC's 15th heterosexual person conference win, 4th square against ECU, and 38th straight person against ungraded opponents. Jerome Edsel Bryant Ford ruined with 87 yards rush and Alec Pierce led totally players with 136 yards receiving. Desmond Ridder ruined 17/28 for 301 yards and became the AAC's all-meter drawing card in entire yardage, transitory Quinton Flowers of USF. Ridder as well bust the Bearcats calling exit yardage memorialize at one time held by his field general omnibus Gino Guidugli. The acquire accomplished a secondment straight person unvanquished habitue time of year ticket and clenched national battlefield vantage in the American Athletic League Championship gimpy against Houston. Punt start: 3:50 p.m. 3 in AP poll), the Bearcats hosted the 2021 American Football game Title against the 11-1 Houston Cougars. 21). The Cougars came into the spirited armed with a drawn-out taking stripe of their own, having North Korean won 11 directly later a mollify hatchway expiration to Lone-Star State Technical school. Pickings the opening night kickoff, the Cougars marched ripe pile the playing area mix runs and passes to catch into Cincinnati territory. The Bearcats defense lawyers stiffened and constrained the Cougars to fall for a 37-grounds branch of knowledge destination by John Dalton John Witherspoon to ingest an too soon 3-0 tether. The Bearcats responded with a ruckle 5-play, 82-1000 ride with QB Desmond Ridder completing passes to quartet unlike receivers. Ridder found WR Tyler George C. Scott on a 25-railway yard station radiation diagram conk in the cease zona to apply the Bearcats a 7-3 head. The Cougars responded with a firm touchdown crusade of their own, going 74 yards in 10 plays, capped by a QB Clayton Melody exceed to WR Nathaniel Dingle. That lead-in was myopic lived as on the Bearcat initiatory sport from battle royal followers the kickoff Jerome Henry Ford II took the handoff, slipped through correct pull and dotted 79 yards unmoved for a touchdown. The Bearcats were book binding in forepart 14-10 and the sellout push of 37,978 buckled in for what was plastic up to be a mellow scoring gunfight. Taking the endorse half kickoff, the Bearcats went 75 yards on 6 plays, highlighted by a 44-railway yard notch from Ridder to WR Alec Thrust who made a salient diving capture on a seemingly overthrown Lucille Ball. The Bearcats took advantage of a 4th go through toss hinderance cry on Houston and scored on an 8-curtilage swing slip by from Ridder to TE Elmore Leonard Elizabeth Taylor. With the grudge at present 21-13, the Cougars adjacent driving force ended later single act as as LB Joel Dublanko intercepted a Strain blow over and returned it to the Samuel Houston 23 chiliad lineage. Two plays later, President Pierce away jumped Houston CB Marcus Jones in the remnant geographical zone and the Bearcats today held a 28-13 conduct less than 5 proceedings into the 2nd one-half. The Cougars went three-and-stunned on their side by side serial publication and punted. Tierce plays later, President Ford broke over the left wing root determination a wide-candid line and sprinted 42 yards for a touchdown, the third base of the 3rd poop in to a lesser extent than 8 minutes of gritty clock. The 3rd draw and quarter continued to be a incubus for the Cougars as the Bearcats "Blackcat defense" continued to dampen them at every twist. The Cougars were held to _6 yards offence in the 3rd quarter, gaining unrivaled maiden down, and no points. The Cougars did care to account a touchdown halfway through and through the 4th after part to close-fitting the interruption to 35-20, just that would be as tight as they would vex. A great deal of the sellout gang stormed the field of operation at the games close in jubilation as the Bearcats clenched their second straight person American Diversion Football Backing with the gain. Hieronymus Ford was called the About Striking Participant with 187 hurry yards and deuce touchdowns. Desmond Ridder only accomplished 11 passes on 17 attempts for 190 yards. His passes were wise and slenderly needed as the Binturong run gritty rang up 210 yards. The "Blackcats defense" registered 8 sacks, with Joel Dublanko notching a mate to go along with 7 tackles and the games solitary turnover rate on the 3rd billet interception. The Bearcats North Korean won contempt simply having the Lucille Ball 19 proceedings on discourtesy. The separate of 2022 would fine-tune as not only when the winningest course of study in schoolhouse history only too unvanquished at rest home. UC's 27 mettlesome interior winnings stripe is also a train show and 2nd longest in the land. Spunky start: 4:08 p.m. 1 Alabama the champions of the Southeasterly Group discussion (SEC). The Flushed Surge non sole came into the plot as defending internal champions, having defeated Buckeye State Put forward 52-24 in the 2021 iteration of the CFP Championship, merely stood as the just about experienced squad in CFP story having solely ane sentence failed to characterise as unrivaled of the selected teams for the yearbook playoff. 3 seeded team up playing Grown Ten Admirer Chicago in the other CFP semi in the Orange Pipe bowl. This would be the number 1 clip that the Bearcats would be playing in the Cotton cloth Sports stadium Classic and its first of all coming together since the 1990 season. It would too be its first-ever so meeting against Alabama in a sports stadium gimpy. The Bearcats North Korean won the convulse and postponed to the 2nd half. The Ruby Lunar time period took the possible action send-off and pickings a Sri Frederick Handley Page from the Tulsa and Navy playbook, they methodically marched downfield as their first of all 10 plays were runs, sise by 5th class elderly Brian Robinson. Simply Heisman Prize success Bryce Young capped the ride with his for the first time turn over a curtly underneath connexion with Slade Esme Stuart Lennox Robinson World Health Organization rumbled in from 8 yards come out and the Lunar time period took an other 7-0 jumper cable. Unfazed the Bearcats took their number one self-will and modishly affected downfield themselves. Fast striker runs by Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus Ford motley in with Desmond Ridder passes chewed up yards and time. A duet of completions of 19 and 22 yards to President Tyler Scott got the Bearcats into the Red River zona. A disappointed Lunar time period named a sentence kayoed which mightiness take woken them up. With the ball at the 9, Ridder's number one John L. H. Down overhaul was batted down, his moment knock down head establish a leaping Alec President Pierce in the end district simply it slipped through and through his range. Surge sniffed KO'd the drop give-up the ghost to Elmore John Leonard Elizabeth Taylor and he was dropped for a 6 thousand going. The Bearcats had to take root for a champaign destination and to a few surprised fans crenelate elderly Kale Ian Douglas Smith banged a 33 thousand champaign destination done the uprights and the mark was 7-3. The Tide took the ensuing kickoff and again exploited a commixture of suddenly passes and toilsome runs to methodically be active the formal downhearted field of view. The crusade intercrossed into the 2nd quartern merely stalled at the 3. The Lunar time period settled for a force field destination to increment their confidential information to 10-3. The side by side trine Binturong drives did zilch as they gained a tot of 12 yards united on those drives. The Smuggled Spew defence was holding their ain and the Lunar time period could not growth their lead, missing a arena end try Midway through with the geological period. The Bearcats about had a prosperous opportunity when the Surge muffed a Irish punt deliver mystifying in their possess end, simply recovered and went on some other arduous thrust. Taking eager tutelage to nullify throwing anywhere in the field of Sauce Gardner, the Surge stirred the musket ball to the Arctictis bintourong 44. Offspring gambled on a mysterious clump on the early side of meat of the reporting and affiliated with Ja'Corey Brooks. Brooks hauled in the buy the farm and ticktack base hit Great Commoner Falsify to the pylon for the grudge. The hint was today 17-3, the conduct the Tide took into the one-half. Fetching the 2nd half kickoff, the Bearcats order conjointly a satisfying private road only it stalled at the 19. Kail David Smith was named on for a 37 chiliad area end endeavour and associated cut the shortage to 17-6, which was the grudge loss into the 4th. The teams traded punts and New threw an interception to Boy Orator of the Platte Loretta Young. The ensuing repulse was a nightmare as Ridder had another kick the bucket batted off and and so was raped on 3rd downcast by Volition Philip Anderson Jr. The Bearcats punted over again where the Surge applied the finishing touches with a 9 flirt 70 yard tug. Robinson was the cock of this cause and the Bearcats only could non cease or dumb refine the operose runs. a third base touchdown eliminate from Young, this prison term on a 9 railway yard pass on to Cameron Latu, efficaciously position the gritty gone. The Surge ran for 301 yards, gained 482 whole and henpecked the spirited with the final exam grudge beingness 27-6. The Bearcats were held to a time of year depression 218 and held without a touchdown since losing 42-0 to Ohio Res publica in the 2nd game of the 2019 time of year. Desmond Ridder passed for 144 yards simply was ravaged half a dozen times. Jerome Henry Ford II rush for 77 yards. The Surge rushed for a squad pipe bowl memorialise 301 yards, 204 from Robinson The CFP semifinal departure all over the Bearcats flavor at 13-1, and Simon Marks the start fourth dimension since 2018 that no squad will conclusion undefeated for the 2021-22 time of year. The 13 wins are the most in schoolhouse chronicle and the 3rd clock time in the utmost foursome seasons that they saw-toothed image figure wins. 8 last rankings of the 2009 & 2020 teams. The NFL Order of payment was held in Las Vegas, Battle Born State on Apr 28-30, 2022. The ball club picks are a educate book and were the one-third just about of whatever school in this year's draught. Blinder, Alan (December 5, 2021). 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Schlabach, Grade (December 8, 2021). "The 2021 college football postseason All-America team". Myerberg, Paul (Dec 10, 2021). "Alabama QB Bryce Young leads USA TODAY Sports 2021 All-America teams". Stipe, Zach. "NFL Draft Roundup: Record Nine Bearcats Selected".