Tickets2018 MILITARY BOWL PRESENTED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN, BENEFITING THE USO
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The University of Cincinnati football team will face Virginia Tech in the 2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, benefiting the USO on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018 inside Navy-Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. The game kicks off at noon ET and will air on ESPN with radio coverage on 700 WLW AM.
BEARCATS IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL
The last two games between the Bearcats and Hokies have taken place in Maryland - a 2012 neutral site game at FedEx Field and the 2014 Military Bowl. UC has one of its biggest alumni networks in the Washington DC/Baltimore area. Former UC standout QB, Brig Owens, is on the Military Bowl committee. Owens excelled at UC in the 1960s and played 13 years in the NFL.
THE SERIES
The game is a rematch of the 2014 Military Bowl, which Virginia Tech won before a sellout crowd of 34,277. It will be the second appearance for each team in the Military Bowl. This two teams have met 11 times on the gridiron with Virginia Tech holding a 6-5 edge in the all-time series. Three previous meetings have come in postseason play, the 2014 Military Bowl, 2008 Orange Bowl and 1946 Sun Bowl. The Hokies hold a 2-1 edge in postseason matchups against the Bearcats.
THE COACHES
Luke Fickell was named the 42nd Football Head Coach at the University of Cincinnati in December 2016. He took the reins of UC's program after spending 15 years at his alma mater, Ohio State. A veteran of nearly 20 years coaching at the FBS level, Fickell was a part of nine Big Ten Conference titles (seven as a coach, two as a player) and two national championship squads with 15 postseason games and 12 NFL Draft selections under his belt.
Justin Fuente is 25-14 in his third season at Virginia Tech. The consensus 2016 ACC Coach of the Year, Fuente joined the Hokies after serving as the head coach at Memphis from 2012-15 where he went 2-1 against UC. Prior to his time with the Tigers, Fuente had stints at TCU (2007-11) and illinois State (2001-06).
TV: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Mike Corey Analyst: Rene Ingoglia Sideline: Alex Corddry
Online: Watch Live
RADIO: BEARCATS SPORTS NETWORK
Play-by-Play: Dan Hoard Analyst: Jim Kelly Jr. Sideline Reporter: Tony Pike Host/Engineer: Mo Egger
Local: 700 WLW AM Satellite: XM 384, Internet 965
Online: TuneIn Radio
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CINCINNATI
// SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
New season ticket deposits for the 2019 season are available now for $50 per seat. The home schedule consists of matchups against UCLA, Miami (OH), UCF, Temple and UConn along with additional American Athletic Conference foes from the West Division. Click HERE to make your deposit to join us in Nippert Stadium in 2019!
If you have 2018 season tickets you do not need to place a deposit as you will receive renewal information at a later date.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
| RV/RV CINCINNATI VS. VIRGINIA TECH | |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 31 | Noon p.m. ET |
| Venue | Annapolis, Maryland | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000) |
| Preview Info | Game Notes | Bowl Guide |
| Records | Cincinnati (10-2) | Virginia Tech (6-6) |
| Head Coaches | Luke Fickell (Second Year) | Justin Fuente (Third Year) |
| Series Record | Virginia Tech leads 6-5 |
| Last Meeting | 2014 Military Bowl - VT won 33-17 (12/27/14) |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Watch | ESPN | Watch Live |
| Listen | 700 WLW AM | TuneIn Radio | XM 384, Internet 965 |
| @GoBearcatsFB | @GoBEARCATS | |
| Tickets | Available Here |
| Gameday Information | Military Bowl Guide |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The University of Cincinnati football team will face Virginia Tech in the 2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, benefiting the USO on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018 inside Navy-Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. The game kicks off at noon ET and will air on ESPN with radio coverage on 700 WLW AM.
BEARCATS IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL
The last two games between the Bearcats and Hokies have taken place in Maryland - a 2012 neutral site game at FedEx Field and the 2014 Military Bowl. UC has one of its biggest alumni networks in the Washington DC/Baltimore area. Former UC standout QB, Brig Owens, is on the Military Bowl committee. Owens excelled at UC in the 1960s and played 13 years in the NFL.
THE SERIES
The game is a rematch of the 2014 Military Bowl, which Virginia Tech won before a sellout crowd of 34,277. It will be the second appearance for each team in the Military Bowl. This two teams have met 11 times on the gridiron with Virginia Tech holding a 6-5 edge in the all-time series. Three previous meetings have come in postseason play, the 2014 Military Bowl, 2008 Orange Bowl and 1946 Sun Bowl. The Hokies hold a 2-1 edge in postseason matchups against the Bearcats.
THE COACHES
Luke Fickell was named the 42nd Football Head Coach at the University of Cincinnati in December 2016. He took the reins of UC's program after spending 15 years at his alma mater, Ohio State. A veteran of nearly 20 years coaching at the FBS level, Fickell was a part of nine Big Ten Conference titles (seven as a coach, two as a player) and two national championship squads with 15 postseason games and 12 NFL Draft selections under his belt.
Justin Fuente is 25-14 in his third season at Virginia Tech. The consensus 2016 ACC Coach of the Year, Fuente joined the Hokies after serving as the head coach at Memphis from 2012-15 where he went 2-1 against UC. Prior to his time with the Tigers, Fuente had stints at TCU (2007-11) and illinois State (2001-06).
TV: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Mike Corey Analyst: Rene Ingoglia Sideline: Alex Corddry
Online: Watch Live
RADIO: BEARCATS SPORTS NETWORK
Play-by-Play: Dan Hoard Analyst: Jim Kelly Jr. Sideline Reporter: Tony Pike Host/Engineer: Mo Egger
Local: 700 WLW AM Satellite: XM 384, Internet 965
Online: TuneIn Radio
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CINCINNATI
- UC earned a 10-win season one year after finishing 4-8. It's +6 win total is one of the turnaround stories of college football in 2018, earning a Herbie Award as the Turnaround of the Year. UC took the honor over Georgia Southern and Syracuse. The awards are presented annually by ESPN CFB analyst Kirk Herbstrit.
- UC is one of the five youngest teams in college football, featuring 81 underclassmen (29 sophomores, 17 redshirt freshmen, 35 true freshmen) on its 112-person roster. The Bearcats will lose 13 seniors following the Military Bowl, including three four starting OL, three starting DL, two starting DBs and a three-year starter at wide receiver.
- UC's turnaround has been led by its defense, closing out the season as the No. 7 scoring defense and No. 8 total defense in the NCAA FBS.DT Cortez Broughton (1st), DT Marquise Copeland (2nd), DE Kimoni Fitz, S James Wiggins and LB Perry Young (1st) earned all-league honors. The unit had 31 sacks, 76 TFLs and forcing 18 turnovers.
- Offensively, UC had a 1,000-yard rusher with a school-record 18 total scores in RB Michael Warren II, the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year in QB Desmond Ridder and a trio of receivers in WR Kahlil Lewis (9), TE Josiah Deguara (5) and WR Rashad Medaris (3), who combined for 17 of the team's 21 receiving scores.
- UC has plenty to play for in the Military Bowl as it has the opportunity to become just the third 11-win team in UC football history, which dates to 1885. The 2008 (11-3) and 2009 (12-1) squads both hit and/or eclipsed the 11-win plateau. The Bearcats current 10-2 mark is only the seventh time in 131 years a team has had double-digit victories.
- The University of Cincinnati football team wrapped its 131st regular season with 10 wins and a third-place AAC East finish.
- The Bearcats program dates to 1885 and is one of the 10 oldest in the NCAA FBS. UC has won a league title five times in the last 11 years and will play in its 14th bowl games in the last 18 seasons.
- One of the youngest teams in the country, UC is made up of 72-percent underclassmen, including 35 true freshmen.
- UC features players from 16 states and five countries with 64 of 112 student-athletes hailing from Ohio and 24 from the Cincinnati area.
- UC has one of the top turnarounds in college football this season, improving by six wins on its 4-8 record from a year ago.
- The Bearcats are defeating opponents by an average of 18.8 ppg, which includes home wins over Alabama A&M, Ohio, Tulane, Navy, USF and ECU along with road triumphs at UCLA, Miami (OH), UConn and SMU.
- UC ranks second in the NCAA FBS in net punting, missing out on the regular season crown by less than half a yard. The Bearcats also sit among the Top-20 teams nationally in: 3rd down conversion pct. defense (4), 4th down conversion pct. defense (4), first downs defense (4), scoring defense (6), time of possession (8), rushing defense (9), total defense (10), 3rd down conversion pct. (10), team passing efficiency defense (12), defensive TDs (16) and rushing offense (16).
- UC leads the American in rushing defense, scoring defense, total defense, punting, fewest opponent 1st downs, opponent 3rd-down conversion percentage and opponent 4th-down conversion percentage while ranking No. 2 in pass defense efficiency.
- UC has 35 rushing touchdowns on the year, more than tripling last year's total of 11. RB Michael Warren II has 17/ 32 scores.
- Warren has rushed for 1,163 yards on the season, a school-record 18 overall TDs and a UC-record tying 17 rushing scores.
// SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
New season ticket deposits for the 2019 season are available now for $50 per seat. The home schedule consists of matchups against UCLA, Miami (OH), UCF, Temple and UConn along with additional American Athletic Conference foes from the West Division. Click HERE to make your deposit to join us in Nippert Stadium in 2019!
If you have 2018 season tickets you do not need to place a deposit as you will receive renewal information at a later date.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.