Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder (Louisville, Kentucky/St. Xavier) was named one of 12 finalists for the 2020 Manning Award the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Thursday.
Ridder, the 2020 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, was named one of the Manning Award’s Stars of the Week three times in 2020. He has helped lead Cincinnati to an 8-0 regular-season record, spot in the AAC title game and a Top-10 ranking in all three major polls.
The Manning Award finalists include: Ian Book (Notre Dame), Matt Corral (Ole Miss), Justin Fields (Ohio State), Dillon Gabriel (UCF), Sam Howell (North Carolina), Mac Jones (Alabama), Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina), Brock Purdy (Iowa State), Ridder, Kyle Trask (Florida) and Zach Wilson (BYU).
Ridder has passed for 1,821 yards and 16 TDs while rushing for 526 yards and 11 scores in 2020. Ridder has 21 career rushing TDs, most ever for a UC QB and tied for No. 9 all-time. Among Manning Award finalists, Ridder has the most rushing yards and rushing scores,
Over the past five games, Ridder has accounted for 21 TDs, passing for 1,224 yards and 10 TDs while running for 455 yards (8.8 YPR) and 11 TDs. He was named the Davey O’Brien National QB of the Week on Oct. 28 following the Bearcats win at SMU and was tabbed for the award’s Great 8 twice along with winning AAC Offensive Player of the Week honors four times this season.
Ridder earned his bachelor’s degree on Dec. 12 and is a semifinalist for the Maxwell and O’Brien Awards. He is the first UC player to win the AAC’s offensive honor since Isaiah Pead was BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2011. Ridder was AAC Rookie of the Year in 2018.
No. 9 UC faces No. 23 Tulsa in the 2020 American Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET inside Nippert Stadium. The game airs on ABC and 700 WLW AM.
ABOUT THE MANNING AWARD
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting. The winner will be announced after the bowls in January.
