The Cincinnati Bearcats and Miami Redhawks will be playing at TQL Stadium this season, the home of the MLS's FC Cincinnati. After not playing each other last season for the first time since 1945, the Battle for the Victory Bell is back on September 19th, at 3:30 on ESPN+.
The Bearcats are 1-1 against the Miami Redhawks under head coach Scott Satterfield. In 2023, Miami beat Cincinnati 31-24 in overtime, and in 2024, the Bearcats won 27-16. Chuck Martin is 1-8 against Cincinnati since becoming the Redhawks head coach in 2014, with his sole win coming in 2023.
With TQL hosting its first college football game, it checks a major box in being able to host a college football bowl game. More requirements to host a bowl game would be adequate stadium capacity, television infrastructure, hotel and tourism support, bowl organization, and title sponsor, and approval from Bowl Season and ESPN.
A lot of these boxes are already checked. TQL holds 26,000 fans, which is comparable to or even bigger than some bowl game sites. It has premium facilities and seating, with the stadium being completed in 2021. The stadium is in Over-the-Rhine, which is close to downtown Cincinnati and other tourist attractions around the city. TQL has a proven ability to host major events with dozens of MLS games, international soccer, and now a college football game. The game this season will be the official test run to see if TQL would be a viable place for a Bowl Game, but all signs are pointing to yes, and besides, doesn't the "Skyline Chili Bowl" have a nice ring to it?
The first football game at @TQLStadium 🏈#GoBearcats pic.twitter.com/AnvdUp3ANn
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) June 16, 2026
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