Cincinnati Edges Central Florida and Remains Undefeated in College Football

In the last three years, Cincinnati and the University of Central Florida have been the teams to beat in the American Athletic Conference East Division (and the one division AAC this year due to Covid). In 2018, UCF finished 12-1 overall and 8-0 in conference games, with a final ranking of #11 in the country; Cincinnati was 11-2, 6-2 and #24. Last year, Cincinnati was 11-3, 7-1, and #21, while UCF was 10-3, 6-2, and #24. This year, the 7-0 Bearcats, ranked #7, traveled to Orlando to take on the 5-2 UCF Knights on November 21st.

The Bearcats, who have pretty much wiped out the teams they’ve played this season, found themselves down 14-3 after the 1st quarter, and were able to take a 2 point lead at 19-17 at halftime. Cincinnati scored a pair of touchdowns in the 4th quarter, but UCF scored a touchdown with a two point conversion to pull within three points at 36-33 with 4:27 left. The Bearcats held on to that lead for their 8th victory of the season.

Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder completed 21 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns; he also rushed for two touchdowns. With two games left, Cincinnati is in good shape for a New Year’s Six bowl game, and if they run the table, at least an outside shot at the College Football Playoff, depending on how the rest of the season goes for the contenders from the Power Five conferences. The Bearcats remaining games are at 1-6 Temple on November 28th, and a makeup game at #24 Tulsa (5-1) on December 12th.