No. 4 Cincinnati is well-positioned to make history as the first Group of Five program to make a College Football Playoff appearance after beating No. 21 Houston 35-20 in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The win completes a second-straight unbeaten title-winning campaign in the AAC and showcased all the reasons why the CFP selection committee should include Luke Fickell’s group in the top four of final rankings on Sunday.
Quarterback Desmond Ridder and running back Jerome Ford combined for five touchdowns to lead Cincinnati’s offense, which didn’t spend much time with the ball but remained ruthlessly efficient with their possessions.
FINAL: No. 4 Cincinnati 35, No. 21 Houston 20
Cincinnati Bearcats
• First 13-0 season in program history
• Back-to-back AAC champions
• First non-Power 5 team to crack the College Football Playoff?CFP committee, you’re up.
📸: @AlbertCesare pic.twitter.com/GPz7sm66d0
— Keith Jenkins (@MrKeithJenkins) December 5, 2021
Cincinnati is 30 minutes away from the College Football Playoff, but Houston has come to play pic.twitter.com/IN6JXEj51A
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) December 4, 2021