Cincinnati Football: 3 takeaways from Birmingham Bowl win over Boston College

1. Cincinnati backfield is going to be really good in 2020

Against Boston College, Cincinnati basically ran at will. The Bearcats controlled the ball for more than 41 minutes, absolutely taking the air out of any hopes the Eagles might have of remaining above .500 for the season. Given the way Cincinnati’s defense played, Boston College had no chance to put any points on the board on the rare occasions when they had the ball.

Desmond Ridder was just one piece of the puzzle for a ground game that dominated the Eagles on the first Thursday of 2020. As a team, the Bearcats put up 343 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries. It was a solid group effort punctuated by a pair of 100-yard rushers.

Ridder was one, as he gained 105 yards from the quarterback position. Junior running back Michael Warren II matched Ridder’s productivity, as he also took 21 carries for 105 yards. Warren did not get into the endzone; instead, it was freshman Ryan Montgomery who punched in a late score in the final minute to cap a seven-carry, 47-yard performance at Legion Field.

Cincinnati won the Birmingham Bowl because they could run the ball and Boston College could not produce on the ground. With more than a 2-to-1 advantage in time of possession, the Bearcats have a blueprint that proved workable against several Power Five opponents this year. A New Year’s Six berth could be in their future in 2020 if Luke Fickell’s team continues to build around their running game.