American Football Wiki
Cincinnati Bearcats football
First season 1885
Head coach Scott Satterfield
2nd year, 3–9 (.250)
Home stadium Nippert Stadium
Stadium capacity 40,000[1]
Stadium surface UBU Sports' Speed Series S5-M
Location Cincinnati, Ohio
Conference Big 12
Past conferences MVC (1957–1969)
Independent (1970–1995)
C-USA (1994–2003)
Big East (2005-2012)
AAC (2013-2022)
Big 12 (2023-present)
All-time history
Cincinnati Bearcats Historical Teams
1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
All-time record 621–589–50 (.513)
Postseason bowl record 9–9–0 (.500)
Playoff record 0–1
Conference titles 14 (BAA: 2, MAC: 4, MVC: 2, C-USA: 1, Big East: 4, AAC: 1)
Rivalries Miami (OH) RedHawks (rivalry)
Louisville Cardinals (rivalry)
Pittsburgh Panthers (rivalry)
West Virginia Mountaineers
Consensus All-Americans Template:American college football All-Americans
Current uniform
Colors Red [2] and Black[2]

             


Fight song "Cheer Cincinnati"
Marching band University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands
Outfitter Under Armour
Website gobearcats.com

The Cincinnati Bearcats football team represents the University of Cincinnati, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bearcats are a member of the NCAA FBS Big 12 Conference and play their home games at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. For the 2014 season, the Bearcats played their home games at Paul Brown Stadium while Nippert Stadium was undergoing renovations. The Bearcats are currently coached by Scott Satterfield.

Affiliations[]

Seasons[]

2020s[]

Season Coach Record
2025 Scott Satterfield
2024 Scott Satterfield 5-7
2023 Scott Satterfield 3-9
2022 Luke Fickell; Kerry Coombs 9-4
2021 Luke Fickell 13-1
2020 Luke Fickell 9-1

2010s[]

Season Coach Record
2019 Luke Fickell 11-3
2018 Luke Fickell 11-2
2017 Luke Fickell 4-8
2016 Tommy Tuberville 4-8
2015 Tommy Tuberville 7-6
2014 Tommy Tuberville 9-4
2013 Tommy Tuberville 9-4
2012 Butch Jones 10-3
2011 Butch Jones 10-3
2010 Butch Jones 4-8

2000s[]

Season Coach Record
2009 Brian Kelly; Jeff Quinn 12-1
2008 Brian Kelly 11-3
2007 Brian Kelly 10-3
2006 Mark Dantonio; Brian Kelly 8-5
2005 Mark Dantonio 4-7
2004 Mark Dantonio 7-5
2003 Rick Minter 5-7
2002 Rick Minter 7-7
2001 Rick Minter 7-5
2000 Rick Minter 7-5

1990s[]

Season Coach Record
1999 Rick Minter 3-8
1998 Rick Minter 2-9
1997 Rick Minter 8-4
1996 Rick Minter 6-5
1995 Rick Minter 6-5
1994 Rick Minter 2-8-1
1993 Tim Murphy 8-3
1992 Tim Murphy
1991 Tim Murphy
1990 Tim Murphy 1-10

1980s[]

Season Coach Record
1989 Tim Murphy 1-9-1
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980

History[]

The Bearcats have an all-time record of over .500 as of 2018, having reached their 600th program victory in 2017. The team has had a bit of a resurgence in the past few years, going 98-56 since 2006, along with 9 bowl game appearances, 5 conference titles, two BCS Bowl berths, and 22 NFL Draft selections.

Robert Burch served as Cincinnati's head coach from 1909-1911, compiling a record of 16–8–2.[3] It was during his tenure that Cincinnati joined the Ohio Athletic Conference, where they would remain until 1927.[4]

In March 1927, George Babcock was hired as a professor of athletics and physical training at the University of Cincinnati.[5] From 1927 to 1930, he was the head football coach of the Bearcats football, compiling a 12–21–3 record.[6]

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.[7]

In 1968, under then head coach Homer Rice, 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 the Super Bowl.[7]

Affiliations[]

Championships[]

Conference championships[]

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

Season Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1933† Buckeye Athletic Association Dana M. King 7–2 3–1
1934 6–2–1 2–0–1
1947 Mid-American Conference Ray Nolting 7–3 3–1
1949 Sid Gillman 7–4 4–0
1951 10–1 3–0
1952 8–1–1 3–0
1963† Missouri Valley Conference Chuck Studley 6–4 3–1
1964 8–2 4–0
2002† Conference USA Rick Minter 7–7 6–2
2008 Big East Conference Brian Kelly 11–3 6–1
2009 12–1 7–0
2011† Butch Jones 10–3 5–2
2012† 10–3 5–2
2014† American Athletic Conference Tommy Tuberville 9–4 7–1
2020 Luke Fickell 9–1 6–0
2021 13–1 8–0

† Co-champions

Division championships[]

Season Division Coach Opponent CG 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. The program's first postseason games were by the 1897 Cincinnati football team, which played in two games in New Orleans in January 1898.

Year Coach Bowl Opponent Result
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 Bowl1 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; Cincinnati counts the bowl game in their records.

1CFP Semifinal Game

Playoffs[]

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

Year Seed Opponent Round Result
2021 4 No. 1 Alabama Semi-Finals – Cotton Bowl L 6–27

Logos/Helmets/Uniforms[]

Image gallery[]

Rivalries[]

Louisville[]

Main article: The Keg of Nails

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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, and remains on hiatus following Cincinnati's move to the Big 12 Conference, which occurred on July 1, 2023.

Miami (OH)[]

Main article: Victory Bell (Cincinnati–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).

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.

West Virginia[]

Main article: Cincinnati–West Virginia rivalry § Football

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. The rivalry was renewed in 2023 with Cincinnati joining the Big 12 Conference in which the Mountaineers competed in since 2011. West Virginia leads Cincinnati in the series 13-3-1 since 2011.

Memphis[]

Main article: Cincinnati–Memphis rivalry § Football

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.

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[]

Main article: River City Rivalry

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.

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." 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." 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.

UCF[]

Main article: Cincinnati–UCF rivalry § Football

The Cincinnati–UCF football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and University of Central Florida Knights. The rivalry dates to the first game between the teams in 2015. The football series is tied 5-5 between the schools.

The schools have played in the same conference since 2013 when both joined the American Athletic Conference, and has continued after both schools began play in the Big 12 Conference in 2023. However the game is not a protected matchup in the Big 12, so there will be seasons with no scheduled game.

Xavier[]

Main article: Cincinnati–Xavier rivalry § Football

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.

References/notes[]

  1. CollegeGridirons.com. Nippert Stadium. Archived from the original on 2010-09-07. Retrieved on 2010-08-28.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Brand Color (UC Official Team Colors - via PDF file). UC.edu.
  3. Cincinnati Football History Database. Nationalchamps.net. Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved on 2017-06-19.
  4. Archived copy. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved on 2017-02-20.
  5. "Babcock Appointed", March 12, 1927. 
  6. George Babcock Records by Year. College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 13, 2011. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gobearcats.com

External Links[]