Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2021 college football season

After UCF won the Peach Bowl and finished 2017 as the only undefeated team in the FBS, the Knights opened 2018 at No. 21 in the AP Top 25. Expect Cincinnati to slot much higher than that when the Associated Press releases their preseason rankings in August. Even though the Bearcats fell in their own Peach Bowl showdown against Georgia for their only defeat in 2020, they will open 2021 right back in the top 10 of the poll.

A big reason for the optimism around the Bearcats is due to the fact that quarterback Desmond Ridder is returning for one more year leading the offense. Ridder finished 2020 as the American Athletic Conference offensive player of the year, and he will have the opportunity to build on one of the most prolific careers in Cincinnati history. Coupled with a defense that ended the season ranked No. 8 in scoring defense, Ridder and crew will be in good position to outscore all opponents.

With games at Notre Dame and at Indiana on their 2021 schedule, Cincinnati will have a pair of opportunities to prove themselves against Power Five opposition that were lacking in 2020. If they defeat both the Fighting Irish and the Hoosiers on the road, look for Luke Fickell’s team to leap up the rankings and potentially contend for more than just another New Year’s Six berth as the top team from the Group of Five.