During the Bearcats resurge as a legit contender in the American Athletic Conference, they have yet to do something that UCF consistently accomplished over the past three seasons. What is that might you ask? Win the AAC the twice in the last three seasons. They received their first defeat last season at Nippert Stadium at the hands of Cincinnati which was the first time they lost to an AAC team in over two seasons. UCF have been the flag bearers of the conference even with Memphis winning last season, it is UCF that has garnered more national attention by going undefeated in 2017 and only losing one game in 2018.
Fickell said, “To me UCF has been the most talented team in the league since, I’ve been here.”
Cincinnati is 2-3 overall against UCF, they haven’t beaten UCF at the Bounce House and before winning last year, the last time they defeated their conference foe was during UCF’s defeated season in 2015. UCF comes into the game 5-2 overall and 4-2 in the AAC, right now the Bearcats have the best record in the conference tied with Tulsa, but they are looking to take the reins from UCF. Rick Flair famously said, “To be the man you have to beat the man” and even though UC is currently at the top of the conference and fresh off of beating UCF at home, they now have to slay the giant on the road if they do this all the national attention will be justified and it will be positive for the Bearcats moving forward.
The AAC is a very good conference, they must embrace being the hunted, while taking down the top dog. If they can take finish the race that UCF started this program will be top dog moving forward in this conference. Hopefully Tulsa keeps winning, as well as SMU, because with the quality of wins in the conference they will be able to box out BYU the rest will fall on how the committee views the Pac 12 and ACC. Maybe the Bearcats can get into the College Football Playoff, but even if they can’t they will be team everyone is hunting for in 2021 and that’s a good place to be, but they have to win Saturday for the rise to continue.
