San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Cincy has inside track to a NY6 berth
The last time I took a close look at the Cincinnati Bearcats they were licking their wounds after a 42-7 loss to San Diego State in the 2015 Hawaii Bowl.
Cincinnati’s fortunes have risen substantially since then, to the point that the No. 7 Bearcats have the inside track on the Group of Five berth in a New Year’s Six bowl game.
Success didn’t happen overnight. After the loss to the Aztecs, Cincinnati suffered through a pair of 4-8 seasons the next two years — the first resulting in head coach Tommy Tuberville’s resignation — before new head coach Luke Fickell turned things around.
The former Ohio State defensive coordinator has guided the Bearcats to back-to-back 11-win seasons.
Cincinnati (5-0) is halfway to double-digit victories again following Saturday’s 49-10 win over Memphis
It was a little bit of payback for back-to-back losses to Memphis in an eight-day span last year. The second loss, in the AAC championship game, cost the Bearcats the NY6 berth that went to the Tigers.
Cincinnati f licked their rivals aside in this year’s meeting with little trouble, mostly because Memphis didn’t have any answers for Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder.
He was effective both throwing the ball (21 for 26, 271 yards, 3 TDS) and running with it (10 carries, 41 yards, 2 TDS).
The Bearcats’ spreadthe-field, up-tempo exploits would have made Sid Gillman smile.
The offensive genius and first coach of the Chargers (guiding the team to the 1963 AFL championship) was Cincinnati’s head coach during the six-season period from 1949-54 before leaving for the NFL’S Los Angeles Rams.
It was a crucial period in Gillman’s development as a Hall of Fame coach in both the collegiate and NFL ranks.
It also was the most high-f lying period in the Cincinnati program’s history — delivering three conference championships and two bowl appearances — before a regular run of bowl appearances 50 years later.
This season is setting up to be the school’s best ever, although there still is danger ahead with Houston, UCF and surprising Tulsa among the five conference games remaining on the schedule
Cincinnati should be favored in every game, though, as well as in an expected AAC championship game appearance.
The key is that last game, of course. The NY6 berth goes to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion.
We’ll get a better idea of where things stand on Nov. 17 when the CFP Selection Committee releases its first top-25 rankings.
For now, the AP includes six Group of Five schools, with the Bearcats followed by No. 11 BYU, No. 19 Marshall, No. 20 Coastal Carolina, No. 22 SMU and No. 25 Boise State.
BYU, as an independent, is not eligible for the Group of Five berth.
The Cougars could spoil Boise State’s plans when the teams meet Friday night on the Broncos’ blue field.
In the past six years, the Group of Five representative has been Boise State (2014), Houston (2015), Western Michigan (2016), UCF (2017-18) and Memphis.
The NY6 berth again appears likely to go to an AAC team, unless Cincinnati stumbles down the stretch and one of the other teams can complete an unbeaten run up the rankings.
Sears sighting
Quarterback Jack Sears committed to San Diego State last year after leaving USC, then chose not to enroll in January after SDSU’S coaching change.
Sears ended up going to Mountain West rival Boise State, where he is the backup to starter Hank Bachmeier.
Sears got a surprise start Saturday at Air Force when Bachmeier did not make the trip. No reason was given for Bachmeier’s absence, although media reports said he has COVID-19.
Sears has appeared in just one game the past three years, but played against Air Force like he hadn’t missed a snap.
The junior from San Clemente was 17-for-20 passing for 280 yards and three touchdowns in Boise State’s 49-30 win over the Falcons.
Wisconsin COVID cases rise
Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez said on ESPN that COVID-19 cases have risen to 22 for the No. 9 Badgers. A decision will be made Tuesday on whether Wisconsin will play Saturday against
Purdue.
The Badgers have paused football activities until Wednesday.
Big Ten protocol requires players who test positive to remain out at least 21 days, but that could be revised based on recent CDC information.
The Badgers’ top two quarterbacks have tested positive and a third quarterback is out following preseason surgery.
Big Ten teams are playing an eight-game schedule over eight weeks. Playing at least six games is required to qualify for the conference championship game.
Notable
Michigan State’s stunning 27-24 win over No. 13 Michigan made Mel Tucker only the second coach to beat Michigan in his first attempt with the Spartans. Alabama coach Nick Saban was the first. Saban did it in 1995.
Maybe West Virginia’s top-ranked defense is for real. In the Mountaineers’ 37-10 win over No. 16 Kansas State, the K-state running game was limited to 41 yards on 23 carries (1.8 ypc).
kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com