Cincinnati Bearcats football

Last updated

Cincinnati Bearcats football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2025 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
Cincinnati Bearcats logo.svg
First season 1885; 139 years ago
Athletic directorJohn Cunningham
Head coach Scott Satterfield
2nd season, 6–10 (.375)
Stadium Nippert Stadium
(capacity: 38,088 [1] )
FieldCarson Field
Field surface Motz artificial turf
(2019–present) [2]
Location Cincinnati, Ohio
NCAA division Division I FBS
Conference Big 12 Conference
Past conferencesIndependent (1885–1909)
OAC (1910–1925)
BAC (1926–1935)
Independent (1936–1946)
MAC (1947–1952)
Independent (1953–1956)
Missouri Valley (1957–1969)
Independent (1970–1995)
C-USA (1996–2004)
Big East (2005–2012)
The American (2013–2022)
All-time record65960750 (.520)
Bowl record1011 (.476)
Playoff appearances1 (2021)
Playoff record0–1
Conference titles16 (BAC: 2, MAC: 4, MVC: 2, C-USA: 1, Big East: 4, AAC: 3)
Rivalries Louisville (rivalry)
Miami (OH) (rivalry)
UCF (rivalry)
West Virginia (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans5
Current uniform
Cincinnati Bearcats Uniforms (2023).png
ColorsRed and black [3]
   
Fight song"Cheer Cincinnati"
MascotThe Bearcat
Marching band University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands
Outfitter Nike
Website gobearcats.com

The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big 12 Conference. They have played their home games in historic and renovated Nippert Stadium since 1924. [4] [5] The Bearcats have an all-time record of over .500, having reached their 600th program victory in 2017. The program has had a resurgence in recent years. After joining the Big East for the 2005 season, the Bearcats have gone 155–75, along with 14 bowl game appearances, 7 conference titles, 4 BCS/NY6 Bowl berths (including being the only Group of 5 team to appear in the 4 team playoff format with their College Football Playoff berth in 2021) and 38 NFL Draft selections, as of the 2022 season.

Contents

History

Early history (1885–1983)

The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as early as 1885. [6] In 1888, Cincinnati played Miami in the first intercollegiate football game held within the state of Ohio. [7] That began a rivalry which today ranks as the eighth-oldest and 11th-longest running in NCAA Division I college football. [8]

Robert Burch served as head coach from 1909 to 1911 Robert Burch - UC.jpg
Robert Burch served as head coach from 1909 to 1911

Robert Burch served as Cincinnati's head coach from 1909 to 1911, compiling a record of 16–8–2. [9] It was during his tenure that Cincinnati joined the Ohio Athletic Conference, where they would remain until 1927. [10] In March 1927, George Babcock was hired as a professor of athletics and physical training at the University of Cincinnati. [11] From 1927 to 1930, he was the head football coach of the Bearcats football, compiling a 12–21–3 record. [12] Sid Gillman, a member of the College and National Football League hall of fame shrines, was the architect of one of the top eras of Cincinnati football history. He directed the Bearcats to three conference titles and a pair of bowl game appearances during his six seasons (1949–54) before leaving for the professional ranks. Cincinnati, with Gillman developing the passing offenses which would make him successful in the pro ranks, became known for its aerial attack in the early 1950s. [8] George Blackburn served as the Bearcats' head coach from 1955 to 1960, compiling a 25–27–6 record. [13] It was during Blackburn's tenure, in 1957, that the Bearcats joined the Missouri Valley Conference, where they would remain until 1969. [14]

Chuck Studley left UMass and became the Bearcats' 25th head football coach. [15] Under Studley's tutelage, the Bearcats won two conference championships in 1963 and 1964, [16] However, Studley's teams struggled in his other four seasons and Studley was replaced after the 1966 season. [17] Oklahoma assistant coach Homer Rice was hired as Studley's replacement. After Rice accepted the head coaching position at Cincinnati, Oklahoma's head coach Jim Mackenzie died of a massive heart attack. Upon Mackenzie's death, Oklahoma's athletic director and president called Homer Rice to request that he return to replace Mackenzie as head coach at Oklahoma. Rice had already hired his staff at Cincinnati and turned down the Oklahoma job to stay committed to his staff at Cincinnati. [18] Rice compiled an 8–10–1 record in his two seasons at Cincinnati. [19] In 1968, the Bearcats were the nation's top passing team. Quarterback Greg Cook was the NCAA's total offense leader with receiver/kicker Jim O'Brien the national scoring champ. A year later, Cook earned Rookie of the Year honors as a Cincinnati Bengal. Two years later, O'Brien kicked the game-winning field goal for the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V. [8] Ray Callahan was promoted from assistant coach to head coach after Rice's departure. [20] After a 4–6 campaign in his first season, [21] Callahan's Bearcats posted back to back 7–4 records in 1970 and 1971. [22] [23] However, a 2–9 season in 1972 ended his tenure at Cincinnati. [24] [25]

UC's fortunes turned around under head coach Tony Mason, who led the Bearcats for four seasons and compiled a 25–19 record. [26] Mason's Bearcats started slow, but enjoyed an 8–3 campaign in 1976, [27] after which Mason was offered the head coaching position at Arizona, which he accepted. [28] Ohio State assistant coach Ralph Staub was hired as Mason's replacement, and the Bearcats stumbled mightily. Staub's Bearcats posted records of 5–4–2, [29] 5–6, [30] 2–9 [31] and 2–9 [32] for a total of 14–28–2. [33] Staub was fired following the 1980 season. [34] Staub was replaced by Mike Gottfried, who had been head coach at Murray State the previous four seasons. [35] Gottfried was able to improve UC's fortunes, posting back-to-back 6–5 records in 1981 and 1982, [36] [37] however, Gottfried left UC for the head coaching position at Kansas after just two seasons. [38] Gottfried's record at UC is 12–10. [39] Due to an NCAA decision to mandate average attendance of 20,000 for Division I-A programs, Cincinnati was relegated to NCAA Division I-AA for the 1983 season due to consistently low attendance figures. [40] Vanderbilt offensive coordinator Watson Brown, brother of legendary coach Mack Brown, replaced Gottfried but he too, left after only a short period of time. [41] Brown's 1983 squad posted a 4–6–1 record. [42] Brown resigned after the 1983 season to accept the position of head football coach at Rice. [43]

Dave Currey era (1984–1988)

Long Beach State head coach Dave Currey was hired as Brown's replacement, and the Bearcats' struggles returned. Currey failed to post a single winning season as UC's head coach and, after a 3–8 campaign in 1988, [44] Currey resigned under pressure. [45]

Tim Murphy era (1989–1993)

Coach Murphy Tim Murphy FB coach.jpg
Coach Murphy

Maine head coach Tim Murphy was hired to replace Currey in 1989. [46] Despite one-win seasons in both of his first two seasons, [47] [48] Murphy was able to slowly but surely turn things around for the Bearcats, compiling an 8–3 record in 1993. [49]

Murphy elected to leave Cincinnati after the 1993 season for the head coaching position at Harvard University. [50] Murphy left UC with a 17–37–1 record. [51]

Rick Minter era (1994–2003)

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Rick Minter was selected as the Bearcats head coach after Murphy's departure. [52] Minter's Bearcats enjoyed mild success, reaching four bowl games (winning one) and posting six winning seasons in Minter's ten-season tenure. [53] It was during Minter's tenure that Cincinnati joined Conference USA, where they would remain until 2004. [54] Minter remained UC's head coach until after the 2003 season, when he was fired following a 5–7 season. [55] Minter left UC with a 53–63–1 record. [53]

Mark Dantonio era (2004–2006)

Coach Dantonio Mark Dantonio in 2010.jpg
Coach Dantonio

Ohio State defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio was named head coach at Cincinnati on December 23, 2003. [56] [57] Dantonio became the first head coach in 23 years to lead the school to a winning season in his first season at UC. [58] The Bearcats' 7–5 record included a 5–3 record in Conference USA, which was good enough for a second-place finish. The Bearcats finished the season on a winning note with a 32–14 win over Marshall in the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl. [59]

During Dantonio's time at UC, he led the Bearcats to a bowl game victory and directed the team's transition into the Big East Conference in 2005, where they would remain until 2012. [60] As head coach, Dantonio had 15 players earn all-conference honors and 25 received conference academic recognition. [61] [62] Dantonio's Bearcats posted a 4–7 mark in 2005 [63] which was followed by an 8–5 campaign in 2006. [64]

Dantonio left UC after the 2006 season to accept the head coaching position at Michigan State. [65]

Brian Kelly era (2007–2009)

Coach Kelly Brian Kelly.jpeg
Coach Kelly

Central Michigan head coach Brian Kelly was named head coach on December 3, 2006, following the departure of Mark Dantonio. [66] In an unusual move, Cincinnati elected not to appoint an interim coach and asked Kelly to assume his duties immediately by coaching the Bearcats in their bowl game. [67] Central Michigan was also preparing for a bowl appearance, so while Kelly was in Cincinnati preparing the Bearcats, much of his staff remained at Central Michigan to coach the Chippewas. Following Central Michigan's 31–14 win in the Motor City Bowl on December 26, his staff joined him and went on to coach Cincinnati to a 27–24 victory over Western Michigan University in that year's International Bowl on January 6. [67] Cincinnati's victory gave Kelly the unique distinction of having defeated the same team twice in a season as coach of two teams (Central Michigan had defeated Western Michigan 31–7 earlier that season). [67]

In his first full season, Kelly led Cincinnati to a competitive position in the Big East, the Bearcats' second ever 10-win season (its first since 1949), and a Top 25 ranking. [68] On December 5, 2007, Kelly was named Big East Coach of the Year, after leading the Bearcats to a 9–3 record. [69] Kelly led the Bearcats to a 31–21 victory in the PapaJohns.com Bowl over Southern Miss.

In 2008, Kelly led Cincinnati to its first ever outright Big East title with key wins over West Virginia and Pittsburgh. The Bearcats had never defeated either in Big East conference play. Kelly became the first coach to win all three of the Bearcats' traveling trophies— [70] the Victory Bell (Miami [OH]), the Keg of Nails (Louisville), and the River City Rivalry Trophy (Pitt). The Bearcats played in the Orange Bowl versus the ACC champion, Virginia Tech, on January 1, 2009, but lost 20–7 to finish the season 11–3. [71] [72]

After beginning the 2009 season unranked in all polls, the Bearcats reeled off 12 straight victories and finished the regular season undefeated. [73] Going into the bowl season, they were ranked No. 3 in the BCS Standings and faced the Florida Gators in the Sugar Bowl. [74] Kelly did not coach the team in the 51–24 loss to Florida [75] because he accepted the head coach position at Notre Dame. [76]

Among the honors that Cincinnati football achieved in 2009, was the highest academic rating among teams in the top 10 of the BCS standings, according to the 2009 Graduation Success Rates. Cincinnati, which was fifth in the BCS standings, checked in with a 75% NCAA graduation rate and a 71% federal government rate, the only team in the BCS top 10 to surpass 70% in both. Kelly finished his tenure at Cincinnati with a 34–6 record. [77]

Butch Jones era (2010–2012)

On December 16, 2009, Central Michigan head coach Butch Jones was named head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats. [78] The hiring was an odd coincidence, as Jones had also replaced Brian Kelly as head coach at Central Michigan. [79]

Jones led the Bearcats to records of 4–8 in 2010 and 10–3 in 2011, [80] [81] including a Big East championship, a Liberty Bowl victory over Vanderbilt, and he was named Big East Coach of the Year. [82] Also in 2011, Cincinnati was the only program to win both its conference championship as well as the league's team academic award. [82]

Jones led the Bearcats to a 9–3 regular season record in 2012, [83] leading them to the Belk Bowl in Charlotte to play against Duke University, a game Cincinnati won. [84] Twenty days prior to the bowl game, on December 7, 2012, Jones announced to the team that he would be resigning to accept the job as head football coach at Tennessee, [85] after declining offers from Colorado, Purdue, and others. [86] [87]

Tommy Tuberville era (2013–2016)

On December 8, 2012, Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville, formerly head coach at Ole Miss and Auburn accepted the head coaching position at Cincinnati with a $2.2 million contract. [88] [89] Cincinnati's athletic director, Whit Babcock, had previously worked with Tuberville at Auburn; the two have been friends for several years. [90] On December 9 an article in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal pointed out that Cincinnati is only 30 miles from Guilford, Indiana, home of Tuberville's wife, Suzanne. [91]

In 2013, his first season with Cincinnati, Tuberville led the Bearcats into the American Athletic Conference with an overall record of 9–4 and a 6–2 conference record. [92] His 2014 team was also 9–4 overall, [93] but this time earned an American Athletic Conference co-championship by virtue of their 7–1 league mark. [94] Both years also saw bowl losses, in 2013 to North Carolina [95] and 2014 to Virginia Tech. [96] [97] After a 7–5 season in 2015 the Bearcats were defeated by San Diego State 42–7 in the Hawai'i Bowl

On December 4, 2016, after a 4–8 season, [98] Tuberville resigned as head coach of Cincinnati. [99] Tuberville left Cincinnati with an overall record of 29–22 and 18–14 in AAC conference play. [100]

Luke Fickell era (2017–2022)

Coach Fickell Fickell.jpg
Coach Fickell

On December 10, 2016 Ohio State defensive coordinator/associate head coach Luke Fickell was named UC's head coach, replacing Tuberville. [101] Fickell had also served as Ohio State's head coach during the 2011 season after a scandal forced out previous coach Jim Tressel. [102]

During the 2017 season the Bearcats compiled a record of 4–8. [103] The 2018 season saw a much improved team, with the Bearcats finishing with an 11–2 (6–2 AAC) record, and winning the Military Bowl against Virginia Tech. The 11-win season was only the third such season in the history of the program. [104] Fickell was given the AAC Coach of the Year honor for the season. Under Fickell's direction in 2019, the Bearcats won the AAC East Division and played in the AAC Championship. The Bearcats won the Birmingham Bowl, their 2nd straight bowl win and finished the 2019 campaign with its 2nd consecutive 11 win season. Fickell built on the success of the 2019 season, with the 2020 campaign producing his best yet result despite a season mired with COVID-19 cancellations and postponements. The Bearcats returned to the AAC Championship game, this time defeating Tulsa to end the regular season with an undefeated record. Fickell returned the Bearcats to a NY6 bowl, losing a close game to Georgia in the Peach Bowl. In 2021, the Bearcats went undefeated in the regular season, including a notable road victory against Notre Dame and former coach Brian Kelly. [105] After defeating Houston in the AAC Championship, Cincinnati became the first so-called "Group of Five" team to qualify to the College Football Playoff (debuting in the "final four" of that list on November 26). They lost to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. In 2022, Cincinnati would finish in the regular season 9–3 and 6–2 in AAC play, but were not able to qualify for the AAC Championship. [106]

On November 27, 2022, Fickell was hired by Wisconsin to replace Paul Chryst as head coach, [107] and cornerbacks coach and special–teams coordinator Kerry Coombs would be promoted to interim head coach. [108] Fickell would leave Cincinnati as the coach with the most career wins in program history.

Scott Satterfield era (2022–present)

On December 5, 2022, Satterfield was named the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats. [109] Coincidentally, Satterfield's former team, the rival Louisville Cardinals, were set to play Cincinnati only a few days later in the 2022 Fenway Bowl. On September 9, 2023, Satterfield and the Bearcats defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers 27–21, in the first ever college football game aired on The CW. [110] [111]

Conference affiliations

Cincinnati has been both an independent and affiliated with multiple conferences. [112] :102

Championships

Conference championships

Cincinnati has won 15 conference championships, nine outright and six shared.

SeasonConferenceCoachOverall recordConference record
1933 Buckeye Athletic Association Dana M. King 7–23–1
1934 6–2–12–0–1
1947 Mid-American Conference Ray Nolting 7–33–1
1949 Sid Gillman 7–44–0
1951 10–13–0
1952 8–1–13–0
1963 Missouri Valley Conference Chuck Studley 6–43–1
1964 8–24–0
2002 Conference USA Rick Minter 7–76–2
2008 Big East Conference Brian Kelly 11–36–1
2009 12–17–0
2011 Butch Jones 10–35–2
201210–35–2
2014 American Athletic Conference Tommy Tuberville 9–47–1
2020 Luke Fickell 9–16–0
2021 13–18–0

† Co-champions

Division championships

SeasonDivisionCoachOpponentCG result
2019 AAC East Luke Fickell Memphis L 24–29

Bowl games

The Bearcats have participated in 22 postseason bowl games, with a record of 10–12. [113] [114] The program's first postseason games were by the 1897 Cincinnati football team, which played in two games in New Orleans in January 1898. [115]

YearCoachBowlOpponentResult
1946 Ray Nolting Sun Bowl Virginia Tech W 18–6
1949 Sid Gillman Glass Bowl Toledo W 33–13
1950 Sun Bowl West Texas State L 13–14
1997 Rick Minter Humanitarian Bowl Utah State W 35–19
2000 Motor City Bowl Marshall L 14–25
2001 Motor City Bowl Toledo L 16–23
2002 New Orleans Bowl North Texas L 19–24
2004 Mark Dantonio Fort Worth Bowl Marshall W 32–14
2006 Brian Kelly International Bowl Western Michigan W 27–24
2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl Southern Miss W 31–21
2008 Orange Bowl Virginia Tech L 7–20
2009 Jeff Quinn (interim) Sugar Bowl Florida L 24–51
2011 Butch Jones Liberty Bowl Vanderbilt W 31–24
2012 Steve Stripling (interim) Belk Bowl Duke W 48–34
2013 Tommy Tuberville Belk Bowl North Carolina L 17–39
2014 Military Bowl Virginia Tech L 17–33
2015 Hawaii Bowl San Diego State L 7–42
2018 Luke Fickell Military Bowl Virginia Tech W 35–31
2019 Birmingham Bowl Boston College W 38–6
2020 Peach Bowl Georgia L 21–24
2021 Cotton Bowl 1 Alabama L 6–27
2022 Kerry Coombs (interim) Fenway Bowl Louisville L 7–24

The Glass Bowl is listed in NCAA records, but was not considered an NCAA-sanctioned bowl; [113] Cincinnati counts the bowl game in their records. [116]

1 CFP Semifinal Game

Playoffs

Cincinnati was selected as the fourth seed in the College Football Playoff following the 2021 season.

YearSeedOpponentRoundResult
2021 4No. 1 Alabama Semi-Finals – Cotton Bowl L 6–27

Personnel

Coaching staff

Cincinnati Bearcats
NamePositionConsecutive season(s) at Cincinnati in current positionPrevious position
Scott Satterfield Head coach2nd Louisville – Head coach (20192022)
Brad Glenn Offensive coordinator / Wide receivers 2nd Virginia Tech – Passing game coordinator / Quarterbacks (2022)
Tyson Veidt Defensive coordinator / Safeties 1st Iowa State – Associate head coach/Linebackers (20162023)
Kerry Coombs Special teams coordinator / Cornerbacks 3rd Ohio State – Defensive coordinator (20202021)
Nate FuquaCo-defensive coordinator / Outside linebackers 2nd Georgia State – Defensive coordinator / Outside linebackers (20172022)
Nic Cardwell Offensive line 2nd Louisville – Offensive line (2022)
Sean Dawkins Running backs 1st Memphis – Running backs (20212023)
Josh Stepp Tight ends 2nd Louisville – Tight ends (2022)
Walter Stewart Defensive line 3rd Temple – Defensive line (20192021)
Pete Thomas Quarterbacks 2nd Louisville – Quarterbacks (20212022)
Reference: [117]

Rivalries

Louisville

The Keg of Nails is the name of the rivalry between Cincinnati and Louisville. The rivalry has stretched over the span of four conferences from the Missouri Valley Conference, to the Metro Conference to Conference USA, and more recently in the Big East Conference, which in 2013 was renamed to the American Athletic Conference. It is believed to be the oldest rivalry for the Louisville football team and the second oldest for Cincinnati, only behind the annual game with the Miami RedHawks.

The trophy is a replica of a keg used to ship nails. The exchange is believed to have been initiated by fraternity chapters on the UC and U of L campuses, signifying that the winning players in the game were "tough as nails."

The present keg is actually a replacement for the original award, which was misplaced by Louisville, lost during some construction of office facilities. It is adorned with the logos of both schools and the scores of the series games.

The rivalry went on hiatus following the 2013 season, as Louisville moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1, 2014, [118] and remains on hiatus following Cincinnati's move to the Big 12 Conference, which occurred on July 1, 2023. [119]

Memphis

Cincinnati and Memphis have played a total of 36 times across a number of conferences. After the establishment of the American Athletic Conference in 2013, the series was renewed from the days of Conference USA. Most notably, in the 2019 season the two teams would face off twice in consecutive weeks, with both games being hosted by Memphis. The second game would be the 2019 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game in which the Tigers would beat the Bearcats for the second straight week. Cincinnati and Memphis met again in 2020 at Nippert with the Bearcats defeating the Tigers 49–10. The teams have not played since Cincinnati's move into the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.

Miami

The Victory Bell is the trophy awarded to the winner of the American college football rivalry game played by the Cincinnati and Miami (OH). The Victory Bell is the oldest current non-conference college football rivalry in the United States (though the teams were conference rivals for a few years in the late 1940s and early 1950s). [120]

The Bearcats and RedHawks (formerly the Redskins) square off each fall for the famed Victory Bell. The first game in the series, played on December 8, 1888, in Oxford, Ohio, was the first college football game played in the state of Ohio. The original bell hung in Miami's Harrison Hall (Old Main) near the site of the first game and was used to ring in Miami victories. The traveling trophy tradition began in the 1890s when some Cincinnati fans "borrowed" the bell. The bell went to the winner of the annual game for the next forty years until it mysteriously disappeared in the 1930s. The original bell reappeared in 1946 and is on display in the lobby of Miami's Murstein Alumni Center. The trophy is a replica of the original bell and is kept in the possession of the winning team each year. One side of the bell is painted black with white numbers showing Cincinnati's victories, while the other side is white with red numbers showing Miami's victories. Ties are indicated on the top of the red yoke in white numbers.

The Bearcats have won the last 16 meetings, including a 38–17 victory in the 2022 meeting at Paycor Stadium to take the overall series lead at 60–59–7. However, in 2023, Miami shocked the Bearcats to tie the series again at 60–60–7.

Pittsburgh

The River City Rivalry is the name of the rivalry between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. The rivalry itself was relatively brief, played annually from 2005, during which season the rivalry trophy was introduced. Before the rivalry was titled, the two teams played each other in 1921, 1922, 1979, and 1981. The rivalry went on hiatus, like many others throughout the country, in the aftermath of the 2010–13 NCAA conference realignment, which left the programs in separate leagues. However, the two teams are scheduled to meet in a home-and-home series for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. [121]

The Paddlewheel Trophy is the rivalry trophy that was created in 2005 when the Bearcats joined the Big East Conference to which the Pittsburgh Panthers already belonged. The trophy is designed and named in honor the historic link between the cities from the days in the 19th and early-20th centuries when Paddle wheel-powered boats traveled between the two cities along the Ohio River.

The 2009 match-up between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh was described by one national columnist as the most "fascinating game I've ever seen." [122] The game functioned as a Big East championship game, with Cincinnati entering first in the conference, and Pittsburgh at second. Additionally, the Bearcats entered the game undefeated and trying to earn a spot in the BCS National Championship Game, while the 9–2 Panthers were trying to secure their first BCS bowl since the 2004 season. The Panthers had an early 31–10 lead, however, the ensuing kickoff was returned for a touchdown by Mardy Gilyard to make it a 31–17 game at halftime. Cincinnati completed the comeback, tying the game at 38 late in the 4th quarter. Pittsburgh running back Dion Lewis scored a touchdown with 1:36 left in the game, but a mishandled snap by Andrew Janocko prevented the Panthers from converting the extra point. The Bearcats then drove down the field and scored on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Tony Pike to Armon Binns with 33 seconds left. Bearcats kicker Jake Rodgers converted the extra point attempt, and Cincinnati held on to win 45–44. Following the game, Cincinnati rose to a No. 3 ranking in the final BCS standing while Pitt dropped to No. 17. The game has been described as "one of the most crushing losses in the history of Pitt football." [123] Though the rivalry has gone into hiatus upon Pittsburgh's move to the Atlantic Coast Conference it will be renewed in a Home and Home series starting in 2023. In the aftermath of the 2021–22 NCAA conference realignment the series will once again be a battle of power conference foes as the first game of the series will take place in Cincinnati's first year in the Big 12 Conference.

West Virginia

The teams met 20 times between 1921 and 2011, every year from 2005 to 2011, as conference foes and members of the Big East Conference. West Virginia leads Cincinnati in the series 13-3-1 since 2011. [124]

Xavier

Cincinnati and Xavier would first play in 1918, but the series would not become an annual event until 1946. The game would be played each year at Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium as the venue had a larger capacity to accommodate the cross city showdown compared to Xavier's Corcoran Stadium. The series, and Xavier's football program, would come to a close after the 1973 series. Cincinnati leads the historic series, 18–12.

Individual honors

Unanimous First Team All-Americans

YearPlayerPosition
2022 Ivan Pace Jr. LB
Reference: [125]

Consensus First Team All-Americans

YearPlayerPosition
2000 Jonathan Ruffin K
2007, 2008 Kevin Huber P
2021 Sauce Gardner DB
2022 Ivan Pace Jr. LB
Reference: [125]

College football awards

YearAwardPlayerPosition
2000 Lou Groza Award Jonathan Ruffin K
2021 Jim Thorpe Award Coby Bryant DB
References: [125] :78 [126]

Ring of Honor

Cincinnati has honored the following players, with their names and numbers displayed in Nippert Stadium. [127]

No.PlayerPositionCareer
5Tom Marvaso S 1973–1975
8 Gino Guidugli QB 2001–2004
8Danny McCoin QB 1984–1987
12 Greg Cook QB 1966–1968
16 Jack Lee QB 1957–1959
16 Jonathan Ruffin K 1999–2002
19Shaq Washington WR 2011–2015
27Tom O'Malley QB 1947–1949
28Gene Rossi QB 1950–1952
29Bill Shalosky G 1950–1952
30 Mike Woods LB 1975–1977
30 Reggie Taylor RB 1983–1986
47 Kevin Huber P 2005–2008
62Dick Goist RB 1951–1954

College Football Hall of Fame inductees

InducteePositionClassCareerRef.
Frank Cavanaugh Head Coach 19541898 [128]
George Little Head Coach 19551914–1915 [129]
Sid Gillman Head Coach 19891949–1954 [130]

Nippert Stadium

Nippert has been home to the Bearcats football team in rudimentary form since 1901, and as a complete stadium since 1924, making it the fourth oldest playing site and fifth oldest stadium in college football. Nippert has earned a reputation as a tough place to play. One national columnist, visiting the sold-out Keg of Nails rivalry game in 2013, described Nippert Stadium as a "quaint bowl of angry noise sitting under the gaze of remarkable architecture" and went on to compare it to a "baby Death Valley" (referring to LSU's notoriously intimidating Tiger Stadium). [131] In 2012, USA Today called Nippert Stadium the best football venue in what was then the Big East Conference. [132] UC reeled off a 14-game home winning streak at Nippert, during a stretch dating from 2008 to 2010. UC then boasted a school record home winning streak of 32 games from the 2017 home finale against Connecticut to the 2022 home (and American Conference) finale against Tulane. The stadium received an $86 million renovation for the 2015 season, which was completed just in time for the Bearcats home opener on September 5. The Bearcats played their 2014 home games at Paul Brown Stadium.

Current professional football players

National Football League

As of the beginning of the 2024 NFL season [133]

NamePos.NFL Team
Mike Boone RB Carolina Panthers
Jowon Briggs DE Cleveland Browns
Coby Bryant CB Seattle Seahawks
Bryan Cook S Kansas City Chiefs
Jerome Ford RB Cleveland Browns
Darrick Forrest S Washington Commanders
Josiah Deguara TE Jacksonville Jaguars
James Hudson III OT Cleveland Browns
Sauce Gardner CB New York Jets
Daniel Grzesiak OLB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Travis Kelce TE Kansas City Chiefs
Lorenz Metz OT Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Moore WR Arizona Cardinals
Ivan Pace Jr. LB Minnesota Vikings
Alec Pierce WR Indianapolis Colts
Desmond Ridder QB Las Vegas Raiders
Tyler Scott WR Chicago Bears
Tre Tucker WR Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Whyle TE Tennessee Titans
Eric Wilson LB Green Bay Packers

Indicates player is on practice squad

Canadian Football League

As of July 27, 2024. [134] [ better source needed ]

NamePos.CFL Team
Dino Boyd OL Ottawa Redblacks
Zach Collaros QB Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Joel Dublanko LB Edmonton Elks
Bruno Labelle [135] FB Saskatchewan Roughriders
Linden Stephens [136] DB Montreal Alouettes
James Wiggins [137] DB Edmonton Elks


Future Big 12 opponents

On November 1, 2023, Cincinnati's Big 12 opponents from 2024 through 2027 were revealed. [138]

202520262027
Arizona Colorado Houston
BYU Kansas State Kansas
Baylor Texas Tech Oklahoma State
Iowa State Utah TCU
UCF at Arizona West Virginia
at Utah at BYU at Arizona State
at TCU at Houston at Baylor
at Oklahoma State at Iowa State at Kansas State
at Kansas at West Virginia at UCF

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of August 22, 2024. [139]

20252026202720282029203020312032
vs Nebraska
(at Kansas City)
Boston College West Georgia at Boise State Boise State at Army at Nebraska
Bowling Green Western Carolina Missouri State
Northwestern State vs Miami (OH)
(at Paycor Stadium)
at Boston College

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James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Primarily used for American football, it has been the home field of the Cincinnati Bearcats football team in rudimentary form since 1901 and as a permanent concrete stadium since 1915, making it the fourth-oldest playing site and fifth-oldest stadium in college football, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory Bell (Cincinnati–Miami)</span> College football rivalry game

The Victory Bell is the trophy awarded to the winner of the American college football rivalry game played by the Cincinnati Bearcats football team of the University of Cincinnati and the Miami RedHawks football team of Miami University. The Victory Bell is the oldest current non-conference college football rivalry in the United States. Having first been played in 1888, the rivalry is tied for being the oldest in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, with the North Carolina–Wake Forest rivalry and the Duke–North Carolina football rivalry also dating to 1888. It is also the fourth-most played college football rivalry game, with 127 meetings total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Keg of Nails</span> American college football trophy

The Keg of Nails is a traveling trophy continuously awarded to the winner of the American college football rivalry game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Louisville Cardinals. The rivalry has stretched over the span of four conferences from the Missouri Valley Conference, to Conference USA, and more recently in the Big East Conference, which in 2013 was renamed to the American Athletic Conference. It is believed to be the oldest rivalry for the Louisville football team and the second oldest for Cincinnati, only behind the Victory Bell with the Miami RedHawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Fickell</span> American football player and coach (born 1973)

Luke Joseph Fickell is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a position he has held since 2023. Previously he was the head coach at the University of Cincinnati, a position he held from 2016 through 2022. Fickell played college football as a nose guard at Ohio State University from 1993 to 1996 and then was an assistant coach for the Buckeyes. He was interim head coach at Ohio State for the entire 2011 season.

The 2012 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati as a member of the Big East Conference during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats, led by third-year head coach Butch Jones, played their home games at Nippert Stadium. They finished the season 10–3 overall and 5–2 in Big East play to place in a four-way tie for the conference championship. Along with Rutgers, Louisville, and Syracuse, the Bearcats were the final football champions of the Big East Conference, as the league's original incarnation folded following the loss of the three former programs and others to different conferences. Cincinnati became a charter member of the American Athletic Conference the following season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunner Kiel</span> American football player (born 1993)

Gunner Trey Kiel is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and later for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The 2013 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcat football team played their home games at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The 2013 college football season was their first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats were led by first year head coach Tommy Tuberville. They finished the season 9–4, 6–2 in American Athletic play to finish in third place. They were invited to the Belk Bowl where they lost to North Carolina.

The 2015 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team returned on campus to Nippert Stadium after playing 2014 home games at Paul Brown Stadium during stadium renovation. The Bearcats were led by third-year head coach Tommy Tuberville and were members of the Eastern Division of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 7–6 overall and 4–4 in American Athletic lay to finish in a tie for third place in the East Division. They were invited to the Hawaii Bowl where they lost to San Diego State.

The 2016 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats were led by fourth-year head coach Tommy Tuberville, played their home games at Nippert Stadium, and were members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 1–7 in American Athletic play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place in the East Division. For the first time since 2010, the Bearcats were not eligible for a bowl game.

The 2017 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats were led by first-year head coach Luke Fickell who was hired in December 2016. The Bearcats played their home games at Nippert Stadium, and were members of the East Division in the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 2–6 in AAC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place in the East Division.

The 2018 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats play their home games at Nippert Stadium, and are members of the East Division in the American Athletic Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Luke Fickell.

The 2019 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats played their home games at Nippert Stadium, and competed as members of the East Division in the American Athletic Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Luke Fickell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desmond Ridder</span> American football player (born 1999)

Desmond Kelly Ridder is an American professional football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Cincinnati, where he was twice-named AAC Offensive Player of the Year before being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. Ridder has also been a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

The 1966 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented University of Cincinnati during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. The Bearcats, led by head coach Chuck Studley, participated in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and played their home games at Nippert Stadium.

The 2021 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats played their home games at Nippert Stadium and competed as members of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). They were led by fifth-year head coach Luke Fickell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 American Athletic Conference football season</span> Sports season

The 2021 American Athletic Conference football season was the 30th NCAA Division I FBS Football season of the American Athletic Conference. The season was the ninth since the former Big East Conference dissolved and became the American Athletic Conference and the eighth season of the College Football Playoff in place. The American was considered a member of the Group of Five (G5) together with Conference USA (C–USA), the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Mountain West Conference and the Sun Belt Conference.

The 2022 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats, members of the American Athletic Conference, played their home games at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. 2022 was the program's sixth and final season under head coach Luke Fickell.

The 2022 Fenway Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 17, 2022, at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The game was the inaugural edition of the Fenway Bowl and it featured Cincinnati from the American Athletic Conference and Louisville from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game began at 11:03 a.m. EST and aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2022–23 bowl games concluding the 2022 FBS football season. Sponsored by cloud storage company Wasabi Technologies, it was officially known as the Wasabi Fenway Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Cincinnati Bearcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2023 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats, members of the Big 12 Conference, played home games at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. 2023 was the program's first season under head coach Scott Satterfield. The Cincinnati Bearcats football team drew an average home attendance of 38,193 in 2023.

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