Bearcats Will Play Virginia Tech Hokies in the Military Bowl

The Cincinnati Bearcats earned their right to play in a bowl game after they won six-straight games to start the season. Since then, they won four more games to pad their bowl resume. So, for the last two months, the question has not been about whether or not they’d get in but which bowl game they’d play in.

On Sunday afternoon, the answer finally came in. The Bearcats will be playing the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Military Bowl on Dec. 31 in Annapolis, Maryland.

UC is making its return to bowl season after a two-year absence, as it last played in the postseason in 2015. A 42-7 evisceration at the hands of the San Diego Aztecs in the Hawaii Bowl was the result of that contest. The Bearcats have lost their last three bowl games and are 8-9 all-time in them. They have played in the Military Bowl once before when they faced ... Virginia Tech in 2014. The Hokies won that matchup 33-17 behind 157 yards rushing from J.C. Coleman.

This year’s Hokies went 6-6 in the regular season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, winning their last two games against Virginia and Marshall (the latter of which was yesterday) to punch their bowl ticket. Based on S&P+, they rank 48th in the country in offense, 79th in defense and 45th in special teams. The Bearcats are 5-6 all-time against the Hokies, with that 2014 bowl loss the most recent result. They also lost to them in the 2009 Orange Bowl.

We will have a lot more coverage at Down the Drive in the next few weeks, but for now, what are your thoughts on the matchup?