TicketsCINCINNATI – The Cincinnati football team will put its 28-game home winning streak on the line when it returns home to host Indiana on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Nippert Stadium.
The Bearcats went to Bloomington, Ind., last season and picked up a 38-24 victory over a Hoosiers' team that was ranked in the preseason Top 25 in front of a sold-out crowd.
Cincinnati overcame a 14-0 deficit and used momentum-shifting plays from current senior wide receiver Tre Tucker (99-yard kick return) and current junior linebacker Deshawn Pace (10 tackles, interception), among others, to run away from Indiana.
The victory – a road win over a Big Ten opponent – was used a as springboard for the Bearcats on the way to the greatest season in school history. UC defeated Notre Dame on the road two weeks later before sweeping the conference slate en route to a 13-0 start.
This season, Indiana comes in with a 3-0 record, finding ways to win over Illinois, Idaho and Western Kentucky, in overtime most recently. Led by quarterback Connor Bazelak, a Dayton, Ohio native and Missouri transfer, Indiana will bring a wide-open offense (297 passing yards per game) to Carson Field.
The Hoosiers will be hungry. They had high expectations last season before being derailed by injuries and the season never recovered following the Week 3 loss to the Bearcats.
"You don't get a whole lot of [Power 5 Opponents] to come into your stadium and so, yes, it's a big deal for us," Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell said. "I am sure it will be a big deal for them because obviously, last year in their house, it didn't go the way they wanted it to. In some ways, I think if I was them I would have this one circled. The ability to go on the road and redeem what we did to them last year. So, the key is that we understand that the key is that we prepare for that. I think more than anything, our players just love being at home and having the ability to play in front of a wild crowd."
The game is sold-out and the Bearcats are coming off a 38-17 victory over rival Miami (Ohio) in which UC used 31 points to run away from the RedHawks and secure the Victory Bell series lead (60-59-7) for the first time since 1915. Senior quarterback Ben Bryant tossed for 337 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receivers Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott both went over 100 yards receiving and running back Charles McClelland eclipsed the century mark in rushing.
Saturday marks the first time a "Power 5" team has traveled to Nippert Stadium since UCLA in 2019 and the first Big Ten opponent to come to Cincinnati since Purdue in 2013.
The Bearcats won both of those games and will look to do the same on Saturday.
Said redshirt senior tight end and team captain Josh Whyle, "Coach Fickell always says focus on us and don't worry about outside noise or anybody that comes in here.
"This is our house. No matter who comes in here, we have to protect it. It's plain and simple, and that all that I got on my mind." BROADCAST INFORMATION Cincinnati will host Indiana at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN2. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (sideline) are on the call for the game.
On radio, Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Jim Kelly, Jr. (analyst) are on the call for the Bearcats Sports Network. The game will be broadcast on 102.7 WEBN (entire game) and 700 WLW (until 5:40 p.m. when it will break away for the Reds). FICKELL, WHYLE, BRIGGS PREVIEW INDIANA ON TUESDAY Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell and senior Josh Whyle and Jowon Briggs previewed Indiana at Tuesday's weekly press conference.
UC TO INDUCT FOUR WOMEN INTO HALL OF FAME ON FRIDAY NIGHT In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, Cincinnati will induct an all-female Hall of Fame Class into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night: Jacqueline Keire (Swimming and Diving), Kathy Klump (Track and Field), Laura Lauder (Volleyball) and Laurie Pirtle (Women's Basketball). PASSING GAME, PACE LEAD UC PAST MIAMI (OHIO) Cincinnati won its 16th straight against Miami (Ohio) to take the series lead in the nation's oldest non-league rivalry, and second-oldest overall, for the first time since 1915. The Bearcats and RedHawks first played in 1888.
Cincinnati overcame two 10-point deficits in the first half against the RedHawks, trailing 10-0 and 17-7, before scoring 31 unanswered points en route to the victory. It was UC's biggest comeback since overcoming a 14-0 deficit at Indiana on Sept. 17, 2021. UC held Miami to just 67 yards in the second half and 1-for-11 on third down for the game.
LB Ivan Pace, Jr. led UC on defense with eight tackles, 2.0 TFLs and a sack against his former team, while CB Arquon Bush recorded a momentum-swinging interception - the eighth of his career - in the second quarter. LEADERS EMERGING Bryant ranks in the nation's Top 25 in completion % (70.1, 21st), TD passes (seven, 23rd) and pass yards (287.7, 21st). He has thrown seven TDs and just two INTs. He has tossed two 300-yard games in 2022.
Pace, Jr. leads the AAC and ranks 12th nationally in tackles (10.33 per game). His 6.5 TFLs are tied for fifth nationally.
Scott leads UC with 14 receptions for 238 yards and two TDs. Tucker has 12 catches for 183 yards.
McClelland ranks fourth in the AAC with 211 rushing yards and three TDs. McClelland began his career in 2018 and had two season-ending knee injuries. He has 1,001 career yards. His 6.5 career ypc is second in school history.
Punter Mason Fletcher ranks fourth nationally with a 48.0 average. He booted a 67-yarder vs. Miami - UC's longest punt in 11 years. He was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday and added to the Ray Guy Watch List on Sunday. BATTLE OF LAST TWO AFCA NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell won the AFCA's National Coach the Year award in 2021 after leading UC to a 13-1 record.
He followed Indiana head coach Tom Allen as the AFCA Coach the Year. Allen won the award in 2020 after leading the Hoosiers to a 6-2 record, Outback Bowl bid and No. 12 final ranking. FICKELL JUST FOUR WINS AWAY FROM MOST AT UC Fickell's 50 wins are already tied for the second-most in Cincinnati history and he needs just four wins to surpass Rick Minter as the winningest coach in Cincinnati football history.
Most wins in Cincinnati history
Record Coach
53-63-1 Rick Minter (10 seasons)
50-13-1 Sid Gillman (six seasons)
50-16 Luke Fickell (six seasons) BEARCATS RE-LOADING ... Led by Fickell, the reigning consensus National Coach of the Year, and 12 returning starters, the Bearcats are the two-time defending AAC Champions and are coming off of a 13-1 season that culminated in a trip to the 2021 College Football Playoff.
With a 46-8 mark since the start of 2018, Cincinnati's 85% winning percentage ranks among the nation's Top 5 in that span. BEARCAT STREAKS UC has won a league title seven times in the last 14 years and has played in 12 bowl games in the past 15 years.
Cincinnati is 652-596-50 (.522) all-time.
UC is playing its 135th football season in 2022. The Bearcats program dates to 1885 and is one of the 10 oldest in the FBS.
The Bearcats have won 28 consecutive home games.
The Bearcats went to Bloomington, Ind., last season and picked up a 38-24 victory over a Hoosiers' team that was ranked in the preseason Top 25 in front of a sold-out crowd.
Cincinnati overcame a 14-0 deficit and used momentum-shifting plays from current senior wide receiver Tre Tucker (99-yard kick return) and current junior linebacker Deshawn Pace (10 tackles, interception), among others, to run away from Indiana.
The victory – a road win over a Big Ten opponent – was used a as springboard for the Bearcats on the way to the greatest season in school history. UC defeated Notre Dame on the road two weeks later before sweeping the conference slate en route to a 13-0 start.
This season, Indiana comes in with a 3-0 record, finding ways to win over Illinois, Idaho and Western Kentucky, in overtime most recently. Led by quarterback Connor Bazelak, a Dayton, Ohio native and Missouri transfer, Indiana will bring a wide-open offense (297 passing yards per game) to Carson Field.
The Hoosiers will be hungry. They had high expectations last season before being derailed by injuries and the season never recovered following the Week 3 loss to the Bearcats.
"You don't get a whole lot of [Power 5 Opponents] to come into your stadium and so, yes, it's a big deal for us," Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell said. "I am sure it will be a big deal for them because obviously, last year in their house, it didn't go the way they wanted it to. In some ways, I think if I was them I would have this one circled. The ability to go on the road and redeem what we did to them last year. So, the key is that we understand that the key is that we prepare for that. I think more than anything, our players just love being at home and having the ability to play in front of a wild crowd."
The game is sold-out and the Bearcats are coming off a 38-17 victory over rival Miami (Ohio) in which UC used 31 points to run away from the RedHawks and secure the Victory Bell series lead (60-59-7) for the first time since 1915. Senior quarterback Ben Bryant tossed for 337 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receivers Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott both went over 100 yards receiving and running back Charles McClelland eclipsed the century mark in rushing.
Saturday marks the first time a "Power 5" team has traveled to Nippert Stadium since UCLA in 2019 and the first Big Ten opponent to come to Cincinnati since Purdue in 2013.
The Bearcats won both of those games and will look to do the same on Saturday.
Said redshirt senior tight end and team captain Josh Whyle, "Coach Fickell always says focus on us and don't worry about outside noise or anybody that comes in here.
"This is our house. No matter who comes in here, we have to protect it. It's plain and simple, and that all that I got on my mind." BROADCAST INFORMATION Cincinnati will host Indiana at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN2. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (sideline) are on the call for the game.
On radio, Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Jim Kelly, Jr. (analyst) are on the call for the Bearcats Sports Network. The game will be broadcast on 102.7 WEBN (entire game) and 700 WLW (until 5:40 p.m. when it will break away for the Reds). FICKELL, WHYLE, BRIGGS PREVIEW INDIANA ON TUESDAY Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell and senior Josh Whyle and Jowon Briggs previewed Indiana at Tuesday's weekly press conference.
UC TO INDUCT FOUR WOMEN INTO HALL OF FAME ON FRIDAY NIGHT In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, Cincinnati will induct an all-female Hall of Fame Class into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night: Jacqueline Keire (Swimming and Diving), Kathy Klump (Track and Field), Laura Lauder (Volleyball) and Laurie Pirtle (Women's Basketball). PASSING GAME, PACE LEAD UC PAST MIAMI (OHIO) Cincinnati won its 16th straight against Miami (Ohio) to take the series lead in the nation's oldest non-league rivalry, and second-oldest overall, for the first time since 1915. The Bearcats and RedHawks first played in 1888.
Cincinnati overcame two 10-point deficits in the first half against the RedHawks, trailing 10-0 and 17-7, before scoring 31 unanswered points en route to the victory. It was UC's biggest comeback since overcoming a 14-0 deficit at Indiana on Sept. 17, 2021. UC held Miami to just 67 yards in the second half and 1-for-11 on third down for the game.
LB Ivan Pace, Jr. led UC on defense with eight tackles, 2.0 TFLs and a sack against his former team, while CB Arquon Bush recorded a momentum-swinging interception - the eighth of his career - in the second quarter. LEADERS EMERGING Bryant ranks in the nation's Top 25 in completion % (70.1, 21st), TD passes (seven, 23rd) and pass yards (287.7, 21st). He has thrown seven TDs and just two INTs. He has tossed two 300-yard games in 2022.
Pace, Jr. leads the AAC and ranks 12th nationally in tackles (10.33 per game). His 6.5 TFLs are tied for fifth nationally.
Scott leads UC with 14 receptions for 238 yards and two TDs. Tucker has 12 catches for 183 yards.
McClelland ranks fourth in the AAC with 211 rushing yards and three TDs. McClelland began his career in 2018 and had two season-ending knee injuries. He has 1,001 career yards. His 6.5 career ypc is second in school history.
Punter Mason Fletcher ranks fourth nationally with a 48.0 average. He booted a 67-yarder vs. Miami - UC's longest punt in 11 years. He was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday and added to the Ray Guy Watch List on Sunday. BATTLE OF LAST TWO AFCA NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell won the AFCA's National Coach the Year award in 2021 after leading UC to a 13-1 record.
He followed Indiana head coach Tom Allen as the AFCA Coach the Year. Allen won the award in 2020 after leading the Hoosiers to a 6-2 record, Outback Bowl bid and No. 12 final ranking. FICKELL JUST FOUR WINS AWAY FROM MOST AT UC Fickell's 50 wins are already tied for the second-most in Cincinnati history and he needs just four wins to surpass Rick Minter as the winningest coach in Cincinnati football history.
Most wins in Cincinnati history
Record Coach
53-63-1 Rick Minter (10 seasons)
50-13-1 Sid Gillman (six seasons)
50-16 Luke Fickell (six seasons) BEARCATS RE-LOADING ... Led by Fickell, the reigning consensus National Coach of the Year, and 12 returning starters, the Bearcats are the two-time defending AAC Champions and are coming off of a 13-1 season that culminated in a trip to the 2021 College Football Playoff.
With a 46-8 mark since the start of 2018, Cincinnati's 85% winning percentage ranks among the nation's Top 5 in that span. BEARCAT STREAKS UC has won a league title seven times in the last 14 years and has played in 12 bowl games in the past 15 years.
Cincinnati is 652-596-50 (.522) all-time.
UC is playing its 135th football season in 2022. The Bearcats program dates to 1885 and is one of the 10 oldest in the FBS.
The Bearcats have won 28 consecutive home games.