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.
@JoshWhyle81 hauls in the 14-yard touchdown to give the #Bearcats a 13-12 lead and become the first tight end in school history with 15 career touchdowns! #BeatUCFpic.twitter.com/P9QBqdVEHi
— Cincy on the Prowl (@CincyOnTheProwl) October 29, 2022
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.