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Group of Five New Year’s Six Watch, Week 7: Cincinnati bolsters resume

By Dante Pryor

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell and quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) lead the Bearcats onto the field before the first quarter of the NCAA American Athletic Conference football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the East Carolina Pirates at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. The Bearcats led 35-10 at halftime.East Carolina Pirates At Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell and quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) lead the Bearcats onto the field before the first quarter of the NCAA American Athletic Conference football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the East Carolina Pirates at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. The Bearcats led 35-10 at halftime.East Carolina Pirates At Cincinnati Bearcats /
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Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws a pass in the second half of the NCAA football game on Friday, Oct 8, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Bearcats defeated Temple Owls 52-3.Temple Owls At Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws a pass in the second half of the NCAA football game on Friday, Oct 8, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Bearcats defeated Temple Owls 52-3.Temple Owls At Cincinnati Bearcats /

1. (3) Cincinnati Bearcats (5-0, 1-0)

Cincinnati’s dominant 52-3 victory over the Temple Owls at home in Nippert Stadium Friday night was a masterclass on how to take care of business after winning arguably the biggest football game in program history.

The Bearcats put their foot on the gas and made a statement Friday night against Temple. Give a lot of credit to Cincinnati’s fans as well. Bearcat nation showed up en masse Friday night, nearly filling the stadium for “Nippert at Night.”

The stadium was at 95 percent capacity, with over 37,000 rowdy Bearcat fans showing their support for a team that does have a shot, albeit a longshot, at the College Football Playoff. Two things have to happen for Cincy to improve their chances at the playoff.

First, Notre Dame has to keep winning. An 11-1 Notre Dame team makes what the Bearcats did to the Irish that much more impressive. Second, they have to dominate the Mustangs. Well, Cincinnati has to hope SMU comes into that game undefeated and ranked.

Even if those things happen, the Bearcats need a fair amount of chaos to make the playoff. However, their playoff status does not diminish a magical season (possibly a last season in the American).

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