TicketsESPN's College GameDay is coming to Cincinnati.
It's something this city has clamored for as far back as 2009 and as recently as last month. It would be easy to talk about how long these fans have waited for this moment, but that's no longer important.
Now's the time to bury the past, put the future on hold, and live in the present.
Game 0️⃣8️⃣: The Character
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) October 30, 2021
Cincinnati vs. Tulane#Bearcats | #LetItFly pic.twitter.com/jCISlMahjQ
It's been said that expectations are the thief of joy. Cincinnati is confronting it this year. Last season the Bearcats completed a perfect run into the Peach Bowl. The moment that final whistle sounded on the very first calendar day of 2021, this year has been about where this team can go and what they can do when they get there. But those expectations, as great as they are and as diligently as this team has worked to create them, have a funny way of distracting from the journey.
The Bearcats are amid an 18-1 tear, a stretch that includes a bowl blowout, a handful of ranked wins, a conference title game, and a top-10 victory in South Bend. Its only blemish came at the hands of the current unanimous #1 team in America. The Bearcats have earned a place in the AP Poll's top ten for 393 consecutive days. (Three hundred and ninety-three!) They're currently #2 in the country, Homecoming is Saturday, and College GameDay is coming to Cincinnati.
This season is shaping up to be one we won't forget, but don't wait for it to exist in your memory to appreciate it. In the words of Billy Madison, "You gotta cherish it!"
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The Bearcats came home from their trip to New Orleans with a 31-12 win in their bag, an eighth-consecutive victory that allows for Saturday's festivities. Josh Whyle caught two more TD passes against Tulane, giving him the second multi-TD game of his career in as many weeks. The ball is starting to find one of this team's most dynamic weapons. Jerome Ford found the end zone twice again––through the air and on the ground. His 14th rushing TD of the season is good for third in the country and keeps him on pace to surpass Michael Warren II's program record of 19 established just three seasons ago. The Bearcats have a workhorse running between tackles and streaking down sidelines. Desmond Ridder is up to 75 career touchdown passes. That's a milestone in its own right, but with another performance like Saturday, he'd set himself a new personal best for a season and tie Gino Guidugli for the UC record. Cincinnati's reliable leader is still trucking.
And that's just the offensive side of the ball, saying nothing of a defensive unit whose storylines include––but are not limited to––Myjai Sanders heating up, Darrian Beavers turning heads across America, Curtis Brooks stacking up stops, and Deshawn Pace emerging as the next star of the Blackcats.
This team has the chance to do something extraordinary, but they're working their way there right now. This incredible season is more than halfway through. Don't fret about the destination just yet; sit back and enjoy this ride.
Up NextThe Bearcats make their long-awaited return to Carson Field Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against Tulsa––this year's Homecoming game. Tickets are sold out but can be purchased through StubHub, our official secondary ticket partner, HERE.
College GameDay will be broadcasting live from campus starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. More details to come. Stay tuned to gobearcats.com/gameday and @GoBEARCATS social media channels.
Details on Homecoming 2021 festivities, which start Friday evening, can be found HERE.