For the third straight week the now No. 5 ranked team in the CFP Playoff rankings Cincinnati Bearcats had to hold on to a nail-biter win over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane last Saturday afternoon at Nippert Stadium. It was homecoming and ESPN College GameDay finally made their appearance to Clifton for the first time ever. Overall, historic day at the university, but it was almost a damper on the parade.
Notes:
- The Bearcats run defense has been bad the last three weeks. In this game on Saturday, they allowed Tulsa to rush for 297 yards! Yikes. You would think the adjustments would be made after the Tulane game because facing Navy and their triple-option is just a headache. I want to believe that they can turn it around, but I’m less optimistic on that front.
- Turnovers especially late in the game with the bad snap and a fumble that led to Tulsa making this game a heart-stopper. Losing the turnover battle is not a winning recipe fortunately UC is able to use their talent and be better than the opponent to overcome those.
- Desmond Ridder was not bad in this one going 15-of-23 passing for 274 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 12 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown.
- Jerome Ford had seven carries for 24 yards and a touchdown but had to leave the game with an lower leg injury. Luke Fickell said this week he isn’t concerned about the status of Ford as the Bearcats play on a Friday.
- Alec Pierce was great in this one with five receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown reception. Michael Young, Jr. added a touchdown reception of his own as well.
- The receivers didn’t help Ridder at all with dropping some key passes that were literally right to them.
- Bearcats defense stepped up in the goal-line stand at the end of the game and I feel like the way Tulsa was running the ball that they were going to get the touchdown and possibly the two-point conversion.
These last three games and most likely four being the AAC Conference Championship game is everyone is going to give the Bearcats all they can want. I expect another close this Friday night as UC travels to Tampa, Florida to take on the USF at 6 pm on ESPN2.
