CINCINNATI – The 6-0 Cincinnati Bearcats achieved their first Top 25 finishes since 2013 on Sunday.
UC ranked 25th in the Associated Press and USA TODAY coaches polls. It is UC’s first AP ranking (writers survey) since October 14, 2012 and the first USAT ranking (coaches survey) since December 1, 2013.
Coach Luke Fickell’s Bearcats are one of the best rags-to-riches stories in college football, spanning two consecutive 4-8 seasons in Fickell’s second season at UC. The Bearcats beat their opponents averaging 18.4 points per game, including home wins over Alabama A&M, Ohio and Tulane and road triumphs at UCLA, Miami (Ohio) and UConn.
UC ranks first in team passing efficiency defense among NCAA FBS teams. It’s also in the top 10 in Scoring Defense (3), Total Defense (5), Net Punting (6), and Passing Yards (8).
RB Michael Warren II stormed 675 yards and 11 touchdowns, equaling last year’s team of 11 rushing TDs. Redshirt newcomer QB Desmond Ridder has completed almost 66 percent of his passes in five starts. He threw for 10 TDs and charged for four.
DT Cortez Broughton has 11.0 tackles for a loss and 5.0 sacks, beating his pre-2018 career numbers. Linebackers Perry Young, Bryan Wright and Malik Clements are 1-2-3 with 29, 27 and 26 respectively in the team in tackles.
UC plays at the Temple this week on Saturday October 20th.
Ohio State (6-0) ranks third in both polls. Kentucky (5-1) is 18th in AP, 20th in USAT.
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