Luke Fickell
FILE - Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell walks onto the field before the Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Alabama, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Fickell has received a two-year contract extension through 2028 and a raise to $5 million per year after leading the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff. The university board of trustees approved the contract extension Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, also increasing the football staff salary pool to $5.2 million per year. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Key players gone, but Cincy's Fickell says 'run is not over'

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 09, 2022 02:59 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell walks onto the field before the Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Alabama, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Fickell has received a two-year contract extension through 2028 and a raise to $5 million per year after leading the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff. The university board of trustees approved the contract extension Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, also increasing the football staff salary pool to $5.2 million per year. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Cincinnati extends Luke Fickell's contract after playoff run

Feb. 22, 2022 11:37 AM EST

FILE -Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell coaches his players during practice for the Cotton Bowl NCAA football game, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Deposed Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs will be the new special teams/cornerbacks coach for Luke Fickell at the University of Cincinnati. Fickell announced the hiring of the 60-year-old Coombs on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.(AP Photo/Brandon Wade, File)
Fired Ohio St assistant Coombs joins Fickell at Cincinnati

By Mitch Stacy Feb. 01, 2022 06:18 PM EST

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., center left, celebrates his touchdown catch with offensive lineman Luke Wypler during the first half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2 defensive coaches hired as Ohio State revamps staff

Jan. 14, 2022 05:40 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner (1) celebrates an interception of a Murray State pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Sept. 11, 2021, in Cincinnati. Gardner, an Associated Press All-American who hasn't given up a touchdown in his college career, still has to declare for the draft. But he generally projects higher than any of his teammates, so that decision seems clear. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Cincinnati's Ford, Gardner departing early for NFL draft

By Mitch Stacy Jan. 04, 2022 01:48 PM EST

Alabama's Jahleel Billingsley (19) leaps over Cincinnati's Ja'von Hicks (3) during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Run Tide! No. 1 Bama over non-P5 Cincy 27-6 in CFP semi

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 31, 2021 07:14 PM EST

Alabama running back Trey Sanders (6) runs for a first down against Cincinnati during the second half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Ridder, breakthrough Bearcats stall in 27-6 loss to Alabama

By Schuyler Dixon Dec. 31, 2021 07:07 PM EST

Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell watches his team warm up before the Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Alabama, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
DB Hill starts Orange Bowl for Michigan after late arrival

Stephen Hawkins Dec. 31, 2021 04:54 PM EST

Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, left, and Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart speak during a coaches luncheon ahead of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, in Miami. Michigan will play Georgia in the Orange Bowl on Friday, Dec. 31. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Before Harbaugh, Smart play Orange Bowl they shared birthday

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 30, 2021 03:18 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) looks to pass from the pocket during the first half of the American Athletic Conference championship NCAA college football game against Houston Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. The fourth-ranked Bearcats (13-0) get their shot in the CFP semifinal Cotton Bowl on Friday, Dec. 31 against No. 1 defending national champion Alabama. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Non-P5 Cincy takes CFP journey to Cotton semi against Bama

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 30, 2021 02:38 PM EST

FILE - Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up as offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, left, watches before an NCAA college football game against Florida, on Sept. 18, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. Young views the Heisman Trophy as about what he and Alabama have already done, not what the top-ranked Crimson Tide are still trying to accomplish in his first season as their starting quarterback. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
No. 1 Alabama faces upstart Bearcats in Cotton Bowl CFP semi

By The Associated Press Dec. 30, 2021 12:18 PM EST

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (left) and offensive lineman Xavier Truss walk to team practice for the Orange Bowl at Barry University on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Miami Shores, Fla. Georgia plays Michigan at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., in the Orange Bowl CFP Semifinal. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Smart: Stetson to start at QB; Daniels health still unclear

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2021 06:06 PM EST

Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner (1) reacts after sacking Houston quarterback Clayton Tune during the first half of the American Athletic Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Special 'Sauce': Bearcats' lockdown CB faces biggest test

By Eric Olson Dec. 29, 2021 02:06 PM EST

Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell coaches his players during practice for the Cotton Bowl NCAA football game, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Breakthrough Bearcats ready for CFP semi against champ Bama

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 27, 2021 07:37 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell prepares to take players onto the field prior to an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. For Cincinnati (13-0), a member of the second-tier American Athletic Conference, the planets aligned. The Bearcats landed as the No. 4 seed in the CFP, invading the domain of college football's blue bloods. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
No. 1 Alabama without OC and No. 4 Cincy arrive for CFP semi

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 26, 2021 03:29 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell prepares to take players onto the field prior to an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. For Cincinnati (13-0), a member of the second-tier American Athletic Conference, the planets aligned. The Bearcats landed as the No. 4 seed in the CFP, invading the domain of college football's blue bloods. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Cincinnati climbs CFP mountain, but can it stay there?

By Mitch Stacy Dec. 23, 2021 11:34 AM EST

Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86) celebrates with teammates at the end of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. Michigan won 42-3. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Historic playoff: Alabama-Cincinnati, Michigan-Georgia

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 05, 2021 12:34 PM EST

Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott, center, catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of the American Athletic Conference championship NCAA college football game against Houston Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
No. 3 Cincinnati claims AAC crown, possible playoff spot

By Jeff Wallner Dec. 04, 2021 07:38 PM EST

Alabama head coach Nick Saban leaves the field after the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Georgia and Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. Alabama won 41-24. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
CFP Takeaways: Bearcats belong; Tide proves doubters wrong

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 04, 2021 06:54 PM EST

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against SMU, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
No. 3 Cincinnati hosts No. 16 Houston for AAC championship

By Jeff Wallner Dec. 02, 2021 12:27 PM EST