Desmond Ridder
Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell watches the team play against Tulsa in an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Dave Crenshaw)
No. 21 Cincinnati to face SMU near the Bearcats' CFP site

Oct. 20, 2022 11:06 AM EDT

Cincinnati Bearcats tight end Josh Whyle (81) celebrates with Corey Kiner (2) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kennesaw State, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Indiana hopes to snap Bearcats' 28-game home winning streak

By The Associated Press Sep. 22, 2022 12:09 PM EDT

FILE - Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman looks on during the first half of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game against Penn State, Jan. 1, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. Pittman's task when he was hired in 2019 was to bring a team with 19 straight SEC losses back to national relevancy. He's done it, and now there's excitement around the program. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
No. 19 Arkansas, No. 23 Cincinnati meet in marquee opener

By Ethan Westerman Sep. 01, 2022 05:27 PM EDT

FILE - LSU head coach Brian Kelly walks on the field during LSU Pro Day in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, April 6, 2022. LSU coach Brian Kelly signed 15 players from the transfer portal. The group is ranked the No. 3 transfer portal class by 247Sports.(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
No. 3 Georgia opens vs. No. 11 Oregon, former DC Lanning

By Pete Iacobelli Sep. 01, 2022 01:59 AM EDT

FILE - Cincinnati quarterback Evan Prater drops back to pass during an NCAA football intrasquad scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Cincinnati. Prater, who threw just 11 passes in mop-up duty last year, is competing against Ben Bryant, who spent three years at Cincinnati before escaping Ridder's long shadow and transferring to Eastern Michigan last season. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)
Short-timers Cincinnati, Houston, UCF expected to lead AAC

By Mitch Stacy Aug. 22, 2022 02:01 PM EDT

FILE - Cincinnati running back Ryan Montgomery (22) runs with the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tulsa Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Cincinnati. Another competition playing out in camp is to replace 1,300-yard running back Jerome Ford. The returning candidates are senior Ryan Montgomery, who's been a top-notch punt returner for the Bearcats for three years, and senior Charles McClelland, who has had some bad luck with injuries. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
After exodus of stars, No. 23 Cincinnati tries to reload

By Mitch Stacy Aug. 19, 2022 02:52 AM EDT

FILE - Alabama fans cheer before an NCAA college football game against LSU in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Alabama is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 for the second straight season. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Tide and Co.: AP Top 25 team by team preseason capsules

Aug. 15, 2022 01:24 PM EDT

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

National Team quarterback Kenny Pickett, of Pittsburgh (8), hands the ball off to running back Rachaad White, of Arizona State (3), during the first half of an NCAA Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Defense, QBs shine in National's 20-10 Senior Bowl win

By John Zenor Feb. 05, 2022 05:52 PM EST

National Team quarterback Carson Strong, of Nevada throws a pass during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Senior Bowl QBs audition to be first signal-caller drafted

By John Zenor Feb. 04, 2022 01:52 PM EST

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates winning the College Football Playoff Championship game against Alabama, getting a hoist from outside linebacker Bolan Smith, early Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Final rankings and future prospects

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 11, 2022 12:11 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

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

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 showcases names to keep in mind for NFL draft

By Schuyler Dixon Dec. 30, 2021 02:05 AM EST

FILE - Cincinnati tight end Josh Whyle makes a catch against South Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. College teams haven't quite unlocked the full potential of the position as effectively as the pros, but Friday, Dec. 31 College Football Playoff with No. 1 Alabama facing No. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl will put players with potential to be part of the next wave of dominate tight ends on display. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Tight ends take center stage in College Football Playoff

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2021 02:17 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati running back Jerome Ford (24) carries the ball as he breaks a tackle against UCF linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 16, 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/Aaron Doster, File)
Bearcats RB Jerome Ford sheds 'the Alabama transfer' label

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 28, 2021 04:50 PM EST

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) passes the ball against Alabama during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia coordinator: 'No doubt' Bennett is championship QB

By Charles Odum Dec. 28, 2021 11:42 AM EST