Tickets| RV/RV CINCINNATI VS. UCLA | |
| Date | Thursday, Aug. 29 | 7 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Cincinnati, Ohio | Nippert Stadium (40,000) |
| Preview Info | Game Notes | Press Conference Video |
| Records | Cincinnati (0-0 | UCLA (0-0) |
| Head Coaches | Luke Fickell (Third Year) | Chip Kelly (Second Year) |
| Series Record | Cincinnati leads 1-0 |
| Last Meeting | Sept. 1, 2018 - UC won 26-17 |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Watch | ESPN | Watch Live |
| Listen | 550 WKRC AM | TuneIn Radio | Sirius XM Internet 966 |
| @GoBearcatsFB | @GoBEARCATS | |
| Tickets | Starting at $34 |
| Gameday Information | 2019 Gameday Information |
New Shoe Tailgate Kicks Off Thursday | Football Announces Gameday Enhancements For 2019
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati football team opens up the 2019 campaign, the 132nd in program history, Thursday in primetime against UCLA under the lights at Nippert Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. UC comes off an 11-2 campaign and a victory over Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl while the Bruins look to rebound from a 3-9 season in 2018.
THE SERIES
The Bearcats and Bruins meet for the second time Thursday after UC won the inaugural matchup in the 2018 opener for both teams in the Rose Bowl a year ago.
THE COACHES
Luke Fickell, the 2018 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, is in his third season at Cincinnati. The 42nd head coach in program history, Fickell took the reins in December 2016 after 15 years at his alma mater, Ohio State. A veteran of nearly 20 years in the FBS ranks, Fickell was a part of nine Big Ten Conference titles (seven as a coach, two as a player) and two national championship squads with 16 postseason games and 13 NFL Draft selections under his belt.
Chip Kelly, a 28-year coaching veteran at both the professional and collegiate levels, is in his second season at UCLA. Kelly was an analyst at ESPN in 2017 and served as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers (2016). He also was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) following four seasons as head coach at the University of Oregon (2009-12) where he posted a record of 46-7.
TV: ESPNPlay-by-Play: Adam Amin Analysts: Matt Hasselbeck & Pat McAfee Sideline: Molly McGrath
Online: Watch Live
RADIO: BEARCATS SPORTS NETWORK
Play-by-Play: Tom Gelehrter Analyst: Jim Kelly Jr. Sideline Reporter: Tony Pike Host/Engineer: Mo Egger
Local: 550 WKRC AM Satellite: Sirius XM Internet 966
Online: TuneIn Radio
STREAKS, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS ...
- The Bearcats play their 132nd football season in 2019. UC's 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 12 years and has played 10 bowl games in the past 13 years.
- UC has won four-straight American Athletic Conference FB Team Academic Excellence Awards in 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018.
- UC, picked second in the AAC preseason media poll, had 11 wins a year ago, marking only the third time in program history the feat has been achieved (2008, 2009). The Bearcats return more than 85% of the roster, over 5,000 yards of total offense, 10 of its Top-15 tacklers and 14 starters from the 2018 squad.
- The 2019 roster features players from 14 states and six countries with 72 hailing from Ohio and 26 from the Cincinnati area. Forty-five percent of the roster (53/117 players) is made up by freshmen and redshirt freshmen.
- The Bearcats are opening the season against the same team in back-to-back years for the first time since 1991 and 1992 with a home-and-home series against Penn State.
- UC is in its third year under OC Mike Denbrock and DC Marcus Freeman, the first time the Bearcats have had the same primary coordinations in three-straight years since 2004-06 (Don Treadwell and Pat Narduzzi).
- UC will not play consecutive home or road games this season, the first time in the modern era it has occurred.
- UC's offense broke a 48-year old school record in 2018 with 3,113 rushing yards.
- The Bearcats defense led the American Athletic Conference in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense in 2018 and finished no. 9 in the FBS in scoring defense.
- P James Smith was finalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2018 and also earned spots on two All-America squads. UC led the American Conference and finished second in the NCAA FBS in net punting.
- RB Michael Warren II was the Bearcats first 1,000-yard rusher since 2012 and MVP of the Military Bowl.
- QB Desmond Ridder was the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year in 2018.
- UC added several transfers to the roster, LB Darrian Beavers (UConn), S Bryan Cook (Howard), K Sam Crosa (Western Illinois), OL James Hudson (Michigan), S Kyriq McDonald (Alabama), WR Garyn Prater (Ohio State) and WR Blue Smith (Ohio State). Crosa (grad transfer) earned the starting kicker job. Beavers, McDonald and Smith received immediate-eligibility waivers, Prater is immediately-eligible as a walk-on-transfer and Cook and Hudson will sit out this season.
- WR coach Mike Brown and DL coach Chad Wilt joined the staff in the offseason.
The Bearcats will honor the 10th Anniversary of the 2009 perfect regular season throughout the campaign with all season ticket holders set to receive an exclusive dual bobblehead commemorating one of the greatest plays in UC history, the 29-yard TD strike from Tony Pike to Armon Binns in UC's come-from-behind win over Pitt on Dec. 5, 2009.
All 2019 UC football season-ticket holders will receive the dual bobblehead, one per ticket purchased. The season-ticket book, also exclusive to season-ticket holders, features a dual 2009-2019 season-ticket design showcasing Bearcats stars of past and present.
Click HERE for more information.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season-ticket prices start at $99 in the Aquafina Family Section for an exciting six-game home schedule in Nippert Stadium which includes primetime matchups under the lights against UCLA and two-time defending American Athletic Conference Champion UCF, along with the annual Battle for the Victory Bell against Miami (OH), the 2009 team recognition against Tulsa, a homecoming matchup against UConn and senior day against Temple.
The Primetime Plan (UCLA & UCF tickets) starts at $65 a seat, the Football Flex Pack (five ticket vouchers) is $155 and group tickets for outings of 20 or more start at $24.
Student season tickets are nearly sold out, but limited quantities are still available for $70. Click HERE for more information.
Check out the newly launched football tickets hub by clicking HERE.
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.