Hey NCAA committee members is a 48-14 win over an 8-2 team enough "style" points for you?
The Cincinnati Bearcats ran away from the Southern Methodist Mustangs to gain a place in the American Athletic Conference Championship. Whether they are 12-0 or 11-1 with a game against the East Carolina Pirates next Saturday November 27 is the only question to answer.
The NCAA has discounted the Bearcats record all year because they aren't in a "power" conference but consider that Cincinnati is one of three undefeated teams left after 11 weeks. Cincinnati, Georgia and Texas San Antonio are the only Bowl Division teams left without a loss. Cincinnati's last loss was to Georgia in the Peach Bowl when Georgia kicked a last second field goal to win 24-21.
Cincinnati struck first. Seven seconds after Ryan Montgomery returned a punt to the Bearcat 47, Desmond Ridder connected with Tyler Scott for a 53-yard score.
The Cincinnati defense faced a test from a Southern Methodist Mustang team the lights the scoreboard with 41.6 points per game. The Bearcats forced three-and-outs on the first three possessions. The Mustangs moved the ball the fourth time they had it, moving 53 yards with five first downs. Coby Bryant knocked the ball loose from Tre Siggers. Marcus Brown covered it for Cincinnati at the Bearcats 22.
By then, Cincinnati held a 14-point lead.
The Bearcats increased the lead to three touchdowns, when Ridder faked to Montgomery on a fourth and short play and ran it into the end zone himself from 40 yards out.
Alex Pierce caught a 17-yard pass from Ridder to put the Bearcats up 27-0.
Cincinnati left another seven points on the field. Alex Bales missed an extra point and field goals of 34 and 38 yards.
The Bearcats went ahead by five touchdowns when Jordan Jones completed a five-yard pass on an end around. The receiver was none other than Ridder. It was his first career touchdown catch. Ridder had three touchdown passes, ran for one and caught a pass for another. He allowed Jerome Ford to participate with a four-yard run.
Jones added touchdown catch of 11 yards from backup Evan Prater, who took over for Ridder late in the third quarter.
Siggers scored from the two yard line against Cincinnati substitutes with 8:32 left in the game to avoid the shutout.
