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The Cincinnati No.7 clinched one of the 2021 season’s most significant wins on Saturday, entering South Bend, Indiana, and knocking out Notre Dame’s No.9, 24-13. The win will go down as one of the biggest in program history for Cincinnati, which is now poised to become one of the best arguments for a Group-Five team to clinch a spot in the college football playoffs. after beating both the Fighting Irish and Indiana on the road in a non-conference game.
On Saturday, however, it wasn’t just about bolstering a profile for an end-of-season decision by the CFP selection committee, as beating Notre Dame, a program he had only faced once in 1900. , in South Bend, with both teams taking the lead. -10 polls is enough to justify a well-deserved celebration for coach Luke Fickell’s team.
The Bearcats established their advantage early on with a defense that forced turnovers and limited what Notre Dame could do in the first half. Cincinnati intercepted starting quarterback Jack Coan and substitute quarterback Tyler Buchner, forced a fumble on a kickoff return and didn’t allow Notre Dame to get inside the 40-yard line , but once in the first half – in the first possession of the match. The 17-0 halftime deficit was huge given Notre Dame’s ineffectiveness in attack, but a proud Irish side who have been in tough games all year have not finished throwing punches fist.
It was the game’s third quarterback, Drew Pyne, who finally put Notre Dame on the board in the second half thanks to a short field set up by Drew White’s long fumble return. Two late touchdowns weren’t enough to shake the confidence of an attack from Cincinnati who had moved the ball well since the start of the second quarter.
Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder finished with 297 yards on 19 of 32 passes with two touchdowns and 26 rushing yards plus another rushing score. The final margin could have been even more unbalanced had it not been for two missed baskets within 40 yards. Ridder wasn’t perfect, but when the team needed a game he was able to sit there and deliver under pressure.
Cincinnati have a short turnaround before their playoff campaign returns to the field next week at home against Temple, which arguably precedes the most difficult conference test with UCF visiting Nippert Stadium on October 16.
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