FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2020 file photo, Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder looks for a receiver as Central Florida defensive back Corey Thornton (14) pursues during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Orlando, Fla. The defending American Athletic Conference champions are the overwhelming favorite to repeat. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2021 file photo, Gus Malzahn speaks at a news conference after being introduced as the new Central Florida NCAA college football head coach in Orlando, Fla. UCF, with first-year coach Gus Malzahn, returns eight starters on both sides of the ball. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel via AP, FIle)

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell watches from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Memphis for the American Athletic Conference championship in Memphis, Tenn. Fickell and the eighth-ranked Bearcats are focused on the immediacy of this season instead of expected playoff expansion and conference realignment in the future. The defending American Athletic Conference champions are the overwhelming favorite to repeat. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

FILE - Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner (12) takes the ball down the sideline for a touchdown following an interception against East Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., in this Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, file photo. Gardner was selected to The Associated Press Preseason All-America first team defense, Monday Aug. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker, File)