Down The Drive - All PostsA Cincinnati Bearcats blog for the moderately intelligenthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48741/downthedrive-fave.png2022-09-19T18:52:33-04:00http://www.downthedrive.com/rss/current/2022-09-19T18:52:33-04:002022-09-19T18:52:33-04:00Paycor Stadium Ended the Battle for the Bell
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<figcaption>Stephanie Scarbrough/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p id="C5eUuU">There is no more rivalry between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Miami Redhawks. Just take a look at the student sections from last Saturday’s game if there is any doubt. Maybe back in the 90’s or early 2000’s when Miami fielded competitive teams and Cincinnati was just starting to navigate their football program, this rivalry meant something to the fans of both schools, but this game is about as important to both fanbases as K<em>eeping Up With The Kardashians</em> is to Nick Saban. I feel like the millionth person to say this on the internet this week, but this game shouldn’t be played yearly, and definitely should never be hosted at Paycor stadium again.</p>
<p id="fDuge8">On game day, my friends and I had to wake up at eight in the morning for the noon kickoff. While some people reading this may think waking up at eight is sleeping in, for college students, that’s basically asking us to wake up at five in the morning to run five miles after a Friday night out at the bars.</p>
<p id="l2vC0B">My friend’s parents picked us up at 9:30 because they bought a tailgate spot outside Paycor Stadium. Another gripe against this last Saturday was the scheduling of parents’ weekend. I understand the reasoning behind making parents weekend the same weekend against Miami because a lot of Cincinnati students also have siblings that attend Miami, but no parent wants to visit Cincinnati and have to go downtown at 9:30 for a noon kickoff at Paycor Stadium. Parents want to come back to college and experience a weekend as if they were a kid again but forcing parents to do that anywhere besides the college’s campus shouldn’t happen.</p>
<p id="Xlg84U">The use of the Bengals home for Bearcat football games usually isn’t ideal for traffic but having a marathon and Oktoberfest on the same day as well doesn’t really help. When we finally reached downtown, there was no signage or traffic instructions on how to get to our tailgate spot. We spent 30 minutes circling the streets of downtown Cincinnati until a police officer finally pointed us in the right direction.</p>
<p id="QbxqN4">When we got to the parking lot gate, the parking attendant scanned the ticket on my friend’s parent’s phone and pointed us to where we wanted to head. We went out of the parking lot and into our tailgate lot, but when the attendant for that area scanned the phone, he said the pass was already scanned. Clearly. When we explained our situation, he wouldn’t budge on his stance and wouldn’t let us in even though our pass still worked, it just didn’t scan. He said the parking attendant at the other gate should have given us a pass to put on our dashboard, but I couldn’t understand how that was our fault that someone else didn’t do their job. We were frustrated and tired, but it got worse.</p>
<p id="xtqZsV">We turned around and headed back to the garage where we had just come through, but when we tried to get back in, the parking attendant working wouldn’t let us. She repeated the same thing the attendant for the tailgate area said to us and made us pay $40 dollars to get back in. It was the most frustrating hour I had ever been a part of, and the system set up for Paycor parking was horrendous. I can’t imagine how bad it is when the Bengals play, but I’m probably never going to find out because that experience alone made me never want to go back to Paycor stadium again, and I don’t believe I’m alone in saying that.</p>
<p id="B4FgGj">The game was boring. It’s expected that the Bearcats blow out the Redhawks every time they play, so when the game is close, fans are more frustrated than excited to be watching a good game. When Cincinnati was only up by 14 at the end of the third quarter, fans quickly headed towards the exits, even when there was still time left for Miami to make a run. The media timeouts were long and frequent, but between the down time in the game there was barely any music or fun experiences for the fans. Also, the sense of both fanbases not being the true home team made the atmosphere feel weird, and even the UC student section, while packed, didn't feel the same as it usually does at Nippert Stadium. It was boring and extremely hot with the temperature almost reaching 90. I’m a diehard Bearcat, so any football game they play in is fun to me, but Saturday’s game was draining.</p>
<p id="iAucDL">This rivalry is dead. Cincinnati fans view this game as a should-be blowout while Miami fans probably didn’t even know who they were playing. With Cincinnati headed to the Big 12 next year, and the talent gap becoming even more drastic, I can’t see Miami ever making this game competitive again. Maybe they’ll get lucky every 10 years to beat Cincinnati, but with the UCF Knights emerging as a new rival and the West Virginia Mountaineers sitting in waiting for the Bearcats next year, there’s no need to force this “rivalry” for years to come, and especially not at Paycor Stadium. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2022/9/19/23362117/paycor-stadium-ended-the-battle-for-the-bellJackson Howe2022-09-05T19:40:18-04:002022-09-05T19:40:18-04:00Experiencing Fayetteville As A Bearcat
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Cincinnati at Arkansas" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/usZF0KwNouh3nnWSNohjlNpPEdM=/0x0:4700x3133/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71327672/usa_today_18981198.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="W2mWnw">Football is religion. For most of the country, football is a way of life, something that people eat and breathe daily. Places in the south like Starkville, Gainesville, and Fayetteville look forward to six Saturday’s every year, and this weekend, I found out how truly religious every fan in Arkansas is about their Hogs. </p>
<p id="f20XdJ">I’ve wanted to go to a SEC game for as long as I could remember. Seeing a game with 75,000+ fans all cheering for their lifelong team is something special to witness, so when I found out we were playing Arkansas to open our season in Fayetteville, I had to go. I planned the trip for eight of my friends, and after a month of waiting, we headed out of Cincinnati Friday morning before the game to head down south. </p>
<p id="nUWFlp">10 hours seems like a long time in a car (and it is), but having four guys to talk football, movies, fast food, or whatever comes to our minds, it goes by quicker than expected. A stop in St. Louis also broke the car ride up, and we had to try Sugarfire Smokehouse while we were there. I’ve always wanted to try barbecue from St. Louis, and I hate to admit it, but it lived up to the hype.</p>
<p id="8BVRBF">Three hours until we were set to arrive at our Airbnb, we stopped to get food, and when we tried to start our car, it wouldn’t budge. With rain drizzling down on us, we were stuck with no jumper cables in the middle of nowhere, Missouri. Luckily, someone stopped by us and asked if we needed help, so he went to the mechanic shop he worked at and got us jumper cables to start our car. I don’t know if I’d be writing this article right now because we would have been stranded if he didn’t stop to help us. He literally saved our trip, and if you’re reading this Tyler, thank you.</p>
<p id="YQurYA">We arrived in Fayetteville around eight, got some food, then headed out to the bars on Dickson Street to check out the nightlife. While we were walking through the main strip, we continuously saw Bearcat fans all over and would get cheers of ‘Down the Drive’ and “Let’s go Bearcats!” It was like a bowl game atmosphere, and Bearcat fans definitely made their presence felt, which speaks to the dream of Fickell building a top 10 program. Good teams can travel in a season in which they’re good, but great programs travel every year, and that’s what I witnessed in Arkansas. </p>
<p id="dDVF9X">After a night at Sideway’s, it was finally time for game day. Before the game, we went to a fraternity house to tailgate, and their house was massive, unlike anything in Clifton. They had a rooftop patio too, and that’s where me and all my friends spent hanging out and mingling with the students at the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Some people would come up to us and give us a hard time for being Cincinnati fans, but for the most part, the jabs were friendly even though they all thought the Hogs would win by 30. </p>
<p id="dBENI0">Walking over to the stadium, our group filled the campus with UC chants that echoed through out the buildings. When we got to the stadium, the ticket lines were backed up for what looked like forever, but we found a line at the end of the stadium that was relatively quick. Our tickets were in the top section, but the stadium only offered elevators to get up, which had another crazy, long line, so we decided to just take the stairs. After we got to the top, we went to our seats, but after sitting there waiting for kickoff, we decided to take a break in the shade before the game started. Saying it was hot would be an understatement, especially with the reflections from the metal bleachers, but we were all willing to get through it in order to see our Bearcats play. </p>
<p id="XgE6rZ">At the stadium, I was excited to hear the famous “Calling of the Hogs”. When the fans actually did it, I was underwhelmed as it was quiet, and all my friends and I agreed it was overrated for the hype surrounding it. The fans, however, were pretty nice during the whole game and welcoming of a team from Cincinnati, besides for a couple of fans that were taunting the UC section at the end of the game. All in all, the fans were very warm to us and it was a great showing for Cincinnati fans. </p>
<p id="knRmvn">After the game, with morale low, we decided to eat and get out of the sun, so we stopped at Plomo’s on Dickson Street, and they had some great quesadillas that were much needed. Half of our group went back to the Airbnb to recharge their batteries while me and the other half went to Grub’s to watch the other football games going on and grab some drinks. After an hour or so at Grub’s, we walked up Dickson Street and ended back up at Sideway’s. Our group met up with some other Cincinnati fans, and while we were all still bummed out from the loss, we made the most out of our time in Fayetteville while we still could. </p>
<p id="nc82Rg">Looking back and writing about my first trip to an SEC game, I think it was good experience. While I wish the outcome of the game was different, it was still a fun college town and it’s always exciting experiencing new environments in college football. Arkansas fans were also warm and welcoming, which made the experience more enjoyable for everyone from Cincinnati. Fayetteville is a unique town, and while I don’t think I’ll be traveling back anytime soon, I know I made the right decision going down there to cheer on the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2022/9/5/23337306/experiencing-fayetteville-as-a-bearcatJackson Howe2022-08-30T19:40:46-04:002022-08-30T19:40:46-04:00The History of Season Openers in the Fickell Era, Part 2
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<figcaption>Albert Cesare / The Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC</figcaption>
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<p id="5MgK7D">As we inch closer and closer to the long awaited 2022 season for the Cincinnati Bearcats, I have been looking back at the past season openers for Luke Fickell during his time in Cincinnati. Let’s dive into the season openers of the 2020’s and see how each result showed a glimpse of what the rest of the season looked like.</p>
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<p id="jBFcGP"><strong>9/19/20 55-20 Win vs. Austin Peay</strong></p>
<p id="tQAFNB">Repeat season opener opponents seem to be the theme for Fickell’s scheduling. Three years after beating Austin Peay by 12, the Bearcats got to showcase their skills once again against the inferior FCS Governors, but this time the game was not so close.</p>
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<p id="2FmHQY">Desmond Ridder had a solid game as he went 13/19 for 196 passing yards and lead the team with 57 rushing yards. Gerrid Doaks was the real star of the show, however, as he only rushed for 20 yards, but added 64 receiving yards and four total touchdowns. No wide receiver had more than 2 catches on the day, but it was clear the Bearcats didn’t need too much style to take down Austin Peay.</p>
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<p id="WZxcA5">After going up 48-6 in the 4th quarter, the Bearcats subbed in their 2nd and 3rd string offenses and defenses, which allowed the Governors to score two meaningless touchdowns late in a game that the Blackcat defense completely dominated. The defense only had one sack, but tallied nine tackles for loss and four pass deflections. Another interesting note from this game was that Sauce Gardner lead the team in tackles with eight, and his actual name in the box score was changed from Ahmad to Sauce, which I thought was pretty cool. </p>
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<p id="y3yiRr">In a season filled with scheduling conflicts due to Covid-19, the Bearcats took full advantage of their talent, no matter who they had to play as they cruised their way to an AAC championship and a Peach Bowl berth where they’d end up losing on a last second field goal to Georgia. </p>
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<p id="4xZgUc"><strong>9/4/21 49-14 Win vs. Miami (OH)</strong></p>
<p id="FQtaSd">The Battle for the Victory Bell in front of a max capacity home crowd for the first time in two years? Count me in. With all the excitement to have college football fully back, the Bearcats did not disappoint as they crushed the Miami Redhawks.</p>
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<p id="YHV4By">On the 2nd play of the game, Desmond Ridder completed an 81 yard touchdown to Tyler Scott, and there was no turning back for the Bearcats. Ridder finished 20/25 with 295 passing yards, 31 rushing yards, and five touchdowns (by far his best performance in a season opener). Jerome Ford ran for 121 yards and scored a touchdown while 11 players caught a pass in the game. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, and even Evan Prater scored an acrobatic touchdown at the end of the game.</p>
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<p id="8jJr5j">The defense didn’t create any turnovers, but they didn’t really need to as they had five pass deflections and six QB hurries on the day. Jabari Taylor had a solid day holding down the defensive line as he had one sack and two TFL. It was also the debut of freshman punter Mason Fletcher, who only had to punt two times, but averaged only 40.5 yards per punt. </p>
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<p id="irp8zY">The Bearcats would stay perfect the rest of the regular season, including wins at Notre Dame and against Houston, to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Cincinnati would end up losing that game, but it was a historic season for the Bearcat football program.</p>
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<p id="gxU64x">Luke Fickell is 5-0 in season openers. This year might be his hardest test yet as Cincinnati heads down to Arkansas for a prime time game on Saturday. If the Bearcats can sneak out victorious, another great year could be in store for Cincinnati. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2022/8/30/23329201/the-history-of-season-openers-in-the-fickell-era-part-2Jackson Howe2022-08-25T15:44:06-04:002022-08-25T15:44:06-04:00The History of Season Openers in the Fickell Era, Part 1
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<figcaption>Albert Cesare / The Enquirer, York Daily Record via Imagn Content Services, LLC</figcaption>
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<p id="c5BHfX">Season openers are always electric. The feeling of having college football back is unlike any other, but sometimes fans can read too closely into the results of a single game. Today, we’re going to be looking back at every season opener in Luke Fickell’s tenure in Cincinnati and seei how the result for that game aligned with the trajectory of the season. </p>
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<p id="EEc3fE"><strong>8/31/17 26-14 Win vs. Austin Peay</strong></p>
<p id="E0FfKs">In Fickell’s first game as head coach for the Bearcats, he was able to see which players he’d be able to build his program around and where the talent lied on his roster against an FCS opponent. While it did count as a victory for Cincinnati, it was anything but pretty. Hayden Moore passed for 3 touchdowns and Mike Boone ran for 100 yards, but it was clear the offense wasn’t functioning anywhere close to what it should have been against Austin Peay after only gaining 248 total yards.</p>
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<p id="hzM4C2">The defense had a great game, only allowing the Austin Peay Governors to score 14 points and go 3/16 on third down conversions. While the defense only had one sack, they did rack up 10 tackles for loss. Three players had double-digit tackles and Bryan Wright even had an interception. It was also the debut of one of the best Cincinnati punters ever, James Smith, as he averaged 42.2 yards per punt. </p>
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<p id="dyn1MG">The Bearcats did end up victorious from this sloppy game, but this win was one bright spot out of a few for Fickell’s first season. The team would finish 4-8 in 2017, and the three other wins were only by a combined six points. Honestly, if things didn’t go correctly for Cincinnati, this season opener could have been the lone win of the season.</p>
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<p id="rJmQ4N"><strong>9/1/18 26-17 Win at </strong><strong>UCLA</strong></p>
<p id="n2YwDO">This game put the Luke Fickell era on the public’s notice. No one had any expectations for the Bearcats to be competitive in this game. Coming off a bleak 4-8 season, and having to fly all the way to UCLA for Chip Kelly’s first game with the Bruins, analysts all over the country had the home team cruising in this matchup. In a game that Hayden Moore started at quarterback, it’ll always be remembered for Desmond Ridder.</p>
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<p id="Olc0NC">Michael Warren II also put his stamp on the Cincinnati program as he rushed for 142 yards, including three TD’s. The defense came up big yet again as Cortez Broughton made sure his presence was known when he came away with 5 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 2.5 sacks. This game is considered one of the biggest points during the Fickell era, and it paved the ground work for a great season as Cincinnati finished 11-2, including a Military Bowl victory. </p>
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<p id="tZaxHF"><strong>8/29/19 24-14 Win vs. UCLA</strong></p>
<p id="G5I9Sx">Again, the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> were taking on the UCLA Bruins in their season opener, and the scores were almost identical in both games. Ridder looked more comfortable this game as he threw for 242 yards and two TD’s. Warren II also had another great game against the Bruins as he rushed for 92 yards and had two total TD’s. </p>
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<p id="vqkabj">The defense was again all over UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson as he only completed eight passes and rushed for -20 yards. The Blackcat defense created four turnovers and really helped the Bearcats close out the game down the stretch. Cincinnati would go on to play in the AAC championship, and even though they lost, they still finished the season 11-3 with another bowl game victory. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2022/8/25/23321555/the-history-of-season-openers-in-the-fickell-era-part-1Jackson Howe2022-08-24T15:26:42-04:002022-08-24T15:26:42-04:00Opponent First Look: East Carolina
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<img alt="East Carolina v Navy" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xPIRDlLWl6-oi03wW7eo63ZPC6Q=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71280705/1354506670.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="HojYks">Mike Houston looks to have turned a corner at East Carolina. He is starting to have his crew in place on the field. Last year, the progress was evident. The Pirates posted a 7-5 mark and earned a bid to the COVID-cancelled Military Bowl.</p>
<p id="UZlUSd">The majority of starters from both sides of the ball return in 2022. Most significantly, Holton Ahlers, who seems to have been ECU’s starting quarterback for about 25 years, returns for his senior campaign. The big, strong gunslinger will no doubt cap his fantastic college career with an impressive senior campaign. I expect this to to be even better than their 7-5 mark last season.</p>
<p id="6ZifsS">Check out Mike Houston talking about the 2022 ECU team here. The <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> host the East Carolina Pirates on November 11th.</p>
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<p id="7GVq91">Check out Mike Houston talking about the 2022 ECU team here. The Cincinnati Bearcats host the East Carolina Pirates on November 11th.</p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2022/8/24/23320475/opponent-first-look-east-carolinaClayton Trutor2022-08-24T15:16:01-04:002022-08-24T15:16:01-04:00Opponent First Look: Navy
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 02 UCF at Navy" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sFNzFszRoVsC_sgLkxQcfD8lCKE=/0x0:3900x2600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71280654/1235701069.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="F6OVTy">Navy is on the mend after a 4-8 season in 2021. The Midshipmen had piles of freshmen and sophomore playing significant roles last season. This bunch has grown up into sophomores and juniors. They will certainly be better.</p>
<p id="Q4SgCU">Jr. QB Tai Lavatai is back for his second year at the helm. In a system like this one, time in the lead role will almost certainly pay dividends.</p>
<p id="ioBS4q">Defensively, Navy should improve as well, as they return the majority of their starters from a unit that was steady against both the run and pass last season.</p>
<p id="0J7Cq1">Longtime head coach Ken Niumatalolo sounds bullish on the team coming out of camp. Let’s check out his media availability from yesterday. Our <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> play host to Navy on November the 5th.</p>
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<p id="FsiMSs"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Navy Midshipmen</a></p>
<p id="o6spZA"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Oklahoma Sooners</a></p>
<p id="EVIy2O"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Navy Midshipmen</a></p>
<p id="QWjwkL"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Oklahoma Sooners</a></p>
<p id="hNgGrr"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Navy Midshipmen</a></p>
<p id="eW0MtY"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Oklahoma Sooners</a></p>
<p id="IXdDOK"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Navy Midshipmen</a></p>
<p id="dWSbOm"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Oklahoma Sooners</a></p>
<p id="W80dHe"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Navy Midshipmen</a></p>
<p id="E0epPl"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Oklahoma Sooners</a></p>
<p id="jQBuj5"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Navy Midshipmen</a></p>
<p id="X27NWu"><a href="https://www.againstallenemies.com">Oklahoma Sooners</a></p>
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https://www.downthedrive.com/2022/8/24/23320446/opponent-first-look-navyClayton Trutor2022-08-24T14:59:43-04:002022-08-24T14:59:43-04:00Opponent First Look: UCF
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<img alt="UCF Spring Game" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HR15o5khmAAMWyZEjXTmY0dcM-Q=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71280539/1392019734.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="ofStVE">UCF recently named <a href="https://www.redcuprebellion.com">Ole Miss</a> transfer John Rhys Plumlee their starting quarterback. </p>
<p id="N5rNC3">Back in 2019, this dude ran for 1,000 yards as the starting QB for Ole Miss and started eight games.</p>
<p id="6Y8PG5">He is going to be a fearsome force for our <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> to handle. </p>
<p id="Ct0EUm">Gus Malzahn has got himself a talented team. They <a href="https://www.blackandgoldbanneret.com">UCF Knights</a> return the majority of their starters on both sides of the ball from a 9-4 team.</p>
<p id="uDrvmc">WR/occasional wingback Ryan O’Keefe is one of the most versatile weapons in the country. He caught 84 balls last year while adding nearly 300 yards on the ground. </p>
<p id="iu5zJw">This veteran Central Florida defense is led by Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, who made 100 tackles last year from the linebacker position.</p>
<p id="ro6SKN">Donning a sweet hat, Gus Malzahn announces that Mr. Plumlee will be his starting QB, citing his ability to create when things break down. Check out his comments on this excellent UCF team.</p>
<p id="7usLLg">Our guys will face them on October 29th.</p>
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https://www.downthedrive.com/2022/8/24/23320410/opponent-first-look-ucfClayton Trutor2022-08-24T14:48:23-04:002022-08-24T14:48:23-04:00Opponent First Look: SMU
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 27 Tulsa at SMU" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tCnnEugN8wmzSi2_jSFuk24FvNk=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71280493/1236853003.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="6d6uH5">The <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> are in for a tussle with the SMU Mustangs this season. New head coach Rhett Lashlee has a cadre of offense weapons coming back. QB Tanner Mordecai was the leading passer in the American Athletic Conference last season, averaging better than 300 yards per game while tossing 39 touchdowns. Wideout Rashee Rice is an NFL go-to guy in the making. The Mustangs have plenty of excellent WR talent alongside Rice too.</p>
<p id="97UwsU">There is a robust offensive returning to protect this crew, including three solid starters from last year.</p>
<p id="yF0BCm">The defense is a definitive question mark as it was last season. Three starters return from a unit that wasn’t especially good last year, particularly against the pass. SMU will have plenty of shootouts in 2022.</p>
<p id="78aNZX">Let’s hear Coach Rhett Lashlee weigh in on the way camp has been going for the Mustangs. Cincinnati visits Dallas on October 22nd.</p>
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https://www.downthedrive.com/2022/8/24/23320388/opponent-first-look-smuClayton Trutor