After the Cincinnati Bearcats' 20-11 win over the UCF Knights, the long 1,057-day wait is over now that the Bearcats have once again been named on the AP Poll. The last time the Cincinnati Bearcats were ranked was November 20th, 2022, after they defeated the Temple Owls. The very next week, the Cincinnati Bearcats lost to Tulane in Luke Fickell's final game as the Cincinnati Bearcats head coach.
This is the first time the Cincinnati Bearcats have been ranked under Scott Satterfield, and the first time since October 2023 that a Satterfield-coached team has appeared on the AP Poll when Louisville came in at No. 25.
The Bearcats have room to improve their ranking over the next couple of weeks as they travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, and host the Baylor Bears.
BEARCATS ON THE RISE 📈@GoBearcatsFB makes its first AP Poll appearance since 2022. pic.twitter.com/Y3bwC2SYWs
— Cincinnati Bearcats (@GoBEARCATS) October 12, 2025