Cincinnati Bearcats Up To 36th In AP, Coaches Poll
By Chris Bains
After beating the Miami (OH) RedHawks last night 31-24, the Cincinnati Bearcats have risen to 36th in the AP and Coaches Poll. UC rose from 39th in last week’s AP Poll and 38th in the Coaches Poll. 36th is the highest the Bearcats have been slotted since they were ranked 37th in week two.
It wasn’t an impressive performance by any means, with Gunner Kiel making questionable decisions with the ball in his hands, the secondary looking as imposing as a wet leaf, and the defensive line struggling to create pressure in the first half for the second straight game. But a win’s a win and Cincinnati was rewarded in the AP Poll by earning 11 votes, one more than in week three. But the Bearcats earned just 13 from the Coaches, two less than last week and again proving that this poll is absolutely absurd.
Looking across Cincinnati’s opponents, the Group of 5, and the AAC, it looks like East Carolina has an inside track to the Access Bowl this postseason. It’s still early, and UC has an opportunity to knock the Pirates off their perch, but the Bearcats definitely need to keep a keen eye on this fast-rising ECU team.
2014 Opponents
- Ohio State: #22 in AP, #20 in Coaches
- East Carolina: #23 in AP, #24 in Coaches
Group of 5 (Non-P5, if you’re wondering about BYU)
- BYU: #20 in AP, #21 in Coaches
- East Carolina: #23 in AP, #24 in Coaches
- Marshall: #30 in AP, #32 in Coaches
- Cincinnati: #36 in AP, #36 in Coaches
- Boise State: Unranked in AP, #42 in Coaches
- Memphis: Unranked in AP, #43 in Coaches
AAC
- East Carolina: #23 in AP, #24 in Coaches
- Cincinnati: #36 in AP, #36 in Coaches
- Memphis: Unranked in AP, #43 in Coaches