TicketsCINCINNATI – The Cincinnati football team will face Navy in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2 in Memphis, Tenn.
The game will be televised on ESPN at 4:30 p.m. ET. Fans looking to purchase tickets will receive an email on Tuesday with more information. The Midshipmen are No. 22 in the AP poll, UC's fourth opponent over the final five games that is currently ranked.
The Bearcats are heading to a bowl for the first time since 2022 and will be playing in the 23rd bowl in program history. UC has now advanced to a bowl 12 times in the last 17 seasons and owns a 10-12 all-time record in bowl games.
Cincinnati increased its win total for the second straight season, posting seven wins in its third year in the Big 12 Conference. UC placed 13 players on All-Big 12 teams, including first-team selection linebacker Jake Golday.
Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s leaders in yards per carry (5.90, 3rd), and yards per play (7.13, 7th) and leads all of FBS in fourth down conversions (76.19%). Paving the way for UC is its stout offensive line, which has allowed just seven sacks and 39 tackles for loss this year, ranking third nationally in both categories.
Led by their potent offense, the Bearcats rattled off seven straight wins at one point this season and returned to the Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2022.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
UC and Navy are 3-3 in the all-time series, with the Bearcats taking the last three (2018, 2021, 2022). The Midshipmen (9-2, 7-1 AAC) were ranked as high as No. 23 in the AP poll and lost only to North Texas and top-10 Notre Dame. They finish their season Saturday against Army.
Last Time at Liberty Bowl
The Bearcats will play in the Liberty Bowl for the second time, picking up a 31-24 victory over Vanderbilt in 2011. UC was led by running back Isaiah Pead, whose workhorse 149-yard, 28-carry, one-TD performance earned him MVP honors. Ralph David Abernathy’s kick return touchdown early in the fourth quarter put Cincinnati in front for good. Quarterback Zach Collaros returned to action in the game 47 days after ankle surgery and tight end Travis Kelce was the Bearcats’ leading receiver.
CINCINNATI BOWL HISTORY
2022: Wasabi Fenway Bowl – L, 7-24 vs. Louisville
2021: College Football Playoff Semifinal at Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic – L, 6-27 vs. Alabama
2020: Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl – L, 21-22 vs. Georgia
2019: TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl – W, 38-6 vs. Boston College
2018: Military Bowl – W, 35-51 vs. Virginia Tech
2015: Hawai’I Bowl – L, 7-42 vs. San Diego State
2014: Military Bowl – L, 17-33 vs. Virginia Tech
2013: Belk Bowl – L, 17-29 vs. North Carolina
2012: Belk Bowl – W, 48-34 vs. Duke
2011: AutoZone Liberty Bowl – W, 31-24 vs. Vanderbilt
2009: AllState Sugar Bowl – L, 24-51 vs. Florida
2008: FedEx Orange Bowl – L, 7-20 vs. Virginia Tech
2007: PapaJohns.com Bowl – W, 31-21 vs. Southern Miss
2006: International Bowl – W, 27-24 vs. Western Michigan
2004: Fort Worth Bowl – W, 32-14 vs. Marshall
2002: New Orleans Bowl – L, 19-24 vs. North Texas
2001: Motor City Bowl – L, 16-23 vs. Toledo
2000: Motor City Bowl – L, 14-25 vs. Marshall
1997: Humanitarian Bowl – W, 25-19 vs. Utah State
1950: Sun Bowl – L, 13-14 vs. West Texas State
1949: Glass Bowl – W, 33-13 vs. Toledo
1946: Sun Bowl – W, 18-6 vs. Virginia Tech
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