College Football Preview: Cincinnati

Cincinnati Bearcats

2015 Results: 7-6 (4-4, 3rd in East)

Lost Hawaii Bowl to San Diego State

Returning Starters: 4 OFF, 6 DEF, 2 SP

2016 Schedule

September

1st TENNESSEE-MARTIN

10th at Purdue

15th HOUSTON

24th MIAMI (OH)

October

1st SOUTH FLORIDA

8th at Connecticut

22nd EAST CAROLINA

29th at Temple

November

5th BRIGHAM YOUNG

12th at Central Florida

18th MEMPHIS

25th at Tulsa

Cincinnati is coming off of a disappointing season after a 9-4 campaign in 2014. Even at 7-6, the Bearcats ranked near the top of the country in every offensive category. But this is a new year. Cincy has two new coordinators on staff and Tommy Tuberville's honeymoon is nearly over. With the likes of Brian Kelly coaching your school, you begin to have higher expectations. The Bearcats have key players returning that can lead them back to the prominence their fanbase is hoping for.

On offense, the Bearcats return the interior lineman. The protection will definitely be needed as senior quarterback Gunner Kiel will have zero returning receivers. The running backs who are expected to contribute the most, Tion Green and Mike Boone, were not starters, but they were big producers last season. The two combined for 1,478 yards and 17 TDs,

On the defensive side, new coordinator Robert Prunty is inherited a pretty good unit. Top tacklers, Eric Wilson and Zach Edwards, both return. Linebacker Bryce Jenkinson, who played a big role as a true freshman, will also be heavily relied upon. Cincinnati's defense improved 18 rankings in total defense last year. With the talent they have returning, the trend is expected to continue.

Player to Watch: Gunner Kiel

The quarterback competition is supposedly open, but there should be no doubt that the fifth year senior will be calling the signals. Last season, Kiel threw for 2,777 yards and 19 TDs in 10 games. In the two years that he has been in Cincinnati, he has thrown 50 TDs and only 24 INTs. Watch for Kiel to leave his mark on the program in his final year.

If you only watch them play once, watch:

9/15 Houston

The Bearcats will only have five days to prepare for the defending conference champs. But a Thursday game will likely be the highlight of the college football slate for the night. Houston won the match-up last year by a score of 33-30. Expect a rowdy crowd, and an electric atmosphere. 

What to Expect

Cincinnati should compete for the division title, or they could bottom out. There is no middle ground for this squad. They get South Florida and Houston at home, so that works out in their favor. 

Prediction

8-4 (5-3, AAC)

-Dug

@chansm1th

Possible Big XII Expasion

The Big XII lost huge teams in the last 6 years. Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Missouri. Then they lost Colorado. Dropping the conference down to just 8 teams. West Virginia and TCU were added to try and stop the bleeding (which are two perfect additions by the conference).

Here in 2016, conference champions have an easier path to the College Football Playoff. The Big XII does not have a conference championship game because the NCAA requires a conference to have 12 teams to hold a championship game. Oklahoma suffered from not having a conference game this last year. Oklahoma held the #3 spot in the Playoff rankings going into week 14. After week 14, conference championship week, Michigan State jumped Oklahoma and the Sooners dropped to #4. Just ask TCU and Baylor how great being named co-champions back in 2015 helped their College Playoff chances.

Rumors have been swirling about who the Big XII plans on adding to the conference. Houston and Memphis have been the 2 teams most media outlets are reporting to join the Big 12. There are also some rumblings about Cincinnati, UCF, BYU, and Colorado State.

All of these teams make sense. Houston would add another team in Texas, but that could end up being a good rival for Oklahoma or Texas. BYU is a football team that always gives P5 teams problems. The Cougars have had at least 8 wins in the past 5 seasons. They're crazy Mormon but a good team with a good rival in Utah. Cincinnati would get the Big XII into Ohio, which surprisingly has a lot of football talent. The Bearcats would give West Virginia a natural rival. UCF gets the Big XII into Florida. The Knights have been up and down in the last few years, but Orlando is central to a lot of talent that would help the conference. Finally, Colorado State, this seems like a way to get the state of Colorado back. Colorado State has had some recent success, and getting out of the Mountain West would improve the Colorado-Colorado State rivalry. Any wins over the Pac 12 in Big XII country is a win in recruiting for the conference.


I would love for the Big XII to call up Boise State to add the Broncos. How awesome would it be to see TCU and Boise State battle it out every year after the battles in the WAC and MWC?! But honestly, I just want to see that beautiful blue field on TV more.

Who else do you want to see in the Big XII? Hit me up in the comments below.

Alty
@ericaltenhof