No. 4 = 2007 -10-3 record
Much like the 2018 season did for Fickell, this 2007 Bearcats team introduced Brian Kelly to the Big East. Taking over for Mark Dantonio, in his first full season Kelly led the Bearcats to a 10-3 record while his new offensive scheme put up 36 points per game. What was so special about this team is how they started. The Bearcats opened up that season with six straight wins, five of them being by three touchdowns or more and the 6th being against a Top 25 Rutgers team. They would climb as high as 15th in the AP Poll and they would finish the season 17th. The Bearcats would beat Southern Miss by 10 points in the Papa John’s Bowl, while Brian Kelly secured Big East Coach of the Year honors. What swayed me to put this team ahead of 2018 despite one fewer win, was that this Bearcats team had a Strength of Schedule ranked 58th, and all three of their losses, including to No. 5 in the country West Virginia, were all one score or less. This Kelly squad was a play or two away from vaulting themselves into the best UC team ever discussions.
