Cincinnati Football: The best moments in Bearcats history on Halloween night

Although the team doesn’t play on Halloween night this year, make sure to check out the best moments in Bearcats history on the fall holiday, highlighted by Shaq Washington’s record-breaking reception and Desmond Ridder’s five-touchdown outing in 2020.

Since the team debuted in 1885, the Bearcats have played in 13 games on Halloween night with a 9-4 record including eight double-digit victories. The first win took place in 1942 as Cincinnati got past Boston University 6-0 at Nippert Stadium.

Despite having a winning record, the first matchup in school history on Halloween day was a 23-0 loss to Dayton in 1925. The Bearcats got some revenge on their in-state opponent with a dominant 27-0 win over Dayton on Halloween night in 1953.

Cincinnati Football: The best moments in Bearcats history on Halloween night

Following a double overtime loss at South Florida in 2003, the Bearcats have won four games in a row on Halloween. The first was a 28-7 win at Syracuse in 2009 as Zach Collaros threw four touchdowns to stay undefeated en route to securing a Big East title.

Munchie Legaux returned to his hometown and had three touchdown passes in a 38-14 win at Tulane in 2014. A year later, Washington broke the Bearcats receiving record in a 52-7 blowout win versus UCF with his 205th career catch to surpass three others.

The most recent matchup on Halloween happened just two years ago as Ridder propelled the Bearcats to a 49-10 win over Memphis with five touchdowns. Jerome Ford added two scores as Cincinnati moved to 5-0 on the way to an unbeaten regular season.