7) Houston Cougars – (L) 33-30
Like we alluded to in the previous post, one of Cincinnati’s losses in the 2015 season ranks ahead of their seventh win, at least in my mind, based on how the Bearcats actually played.
They could have very easily been blown out by an undefeated Houston team that went on to win the Peach Bowl over #9 Florida State. They were so very clearly the class of the AAC and Group of Five and probably should have ran the Bearcats off the field. For a while there, it really did look like that would be the case.
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While they were tied at halftime, Cincinnati came of the gates in their patented sluggish manner in the third quarter, allowing 16 straight Cougar points to go down 30-14. Oh, and would it be surprising if I told you one was by way of a Gunner Kiel pick six and safety? Nah, you already knew that.
But to their credit the Bearcats fought back in a big way. After the safety, Kiel picked himself and the offense up to lead them on a 6-play, 99-yard scoring drive, capped off by a 20-yard touchdown pass to Shaq Washington. A two point conversion close the deficit to eight and the defense took it from there, only allowing Houston to boot a field goal the rest of the way. Later in the fourth quarter Cincinnati scored again, closing the deficit to three, the defense forced the Cougars to punt, but the Bearcats stalled at midfield. They were forced to turn it over on downs, yet again coming oh so close but never sealing the comeback.
What stuck out in my mind in this game is the tenacity Cincinnati displayed in the first half and from late in the third quarter on. They could have easily packed it in after Houston went up 16 like against BYU but they dug their heels in and kept chipping away. Just the fact that the Bearcats displayed a never-say-die attitude makes this the highest ranked loss of the 2015 season and against their toughest opponent no less.
Next: Nom nom, cupcakes!