The University of Cincinnati has one of those stadiums that is half full on Saturdays, and the visiting team will most likely make up for most of it. Well, they did anyway…

The Bearcats have worked their way into the AP Top-25 after starting the season undefeated and riding a 9-game winning streak that began after thwarting Rutger’s bid for an undefeated season last season with a score of 30. -11, and toppling the Scarlet Knights again 28-23. Currently sitting in 15th place, the Bearcats are beginning to make their presence known within the Top-25.

Cincinnati, after their game at Rutgers, ranks second in points allowed and points scored per game. The offense is fourth best in the conference, and the defense is sixth.

The offense isn’t anything too stellar, but they put up a good fight. Ben Mauk, who is playing quite well after overcoming arm surgery for himself, has posted a 167.9 rating with 1,034 passing yards, good for 12 TDs. Bulter Benton is averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He has 67 carries, good for 343 yards and 2 TDs. Marcus Barnett leads all receivers with 28 receptions for 352 yards and 6 TDs.
After Rutgers, the Bearcats are at home against the best offense in the Big East and the second-best offense in the NCAA, the Big East powerhouse known as Louisville. They then travel to Pitt, then to USF. After that road trip, the Cats have two home games, against UCONN and then West Virginia. Finally, they finish the season away from home when they play Syracuse.

Even after all the hoopla, the Cats haven’t let rankings get away from them. That kind of attitude shows that the players are mature enough to possibly compete for a championship. Hopefully, in a few years, Cincinnati will become a football powerhouse and can compete with the ranks of Ohio State, USC and LSU.