Let's give a shout to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. With the Reds usually out of the playoffs by the all-star break -- if not April -- and the Bengals starting 1-3, the Bearcats have found and accepted Cincinnati fans, from all over, looking for a winner; any winner; something to cheer on.
After beating No. 21 the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 28-23 Saturday night, the Bearcats have jumped to 15th in the latest AP Poll. Bearcats linebacker Ryan Manalac won the Big East defensive player of the week while punter Kevin Huber won special teams player of the week.
The Bearcats have Louisville on tap next Saturday and then head to Pittsburgh on October 20. November 3 will Cincinnati's big circle-the-date game at No. 5 South Florida. They play host to undefeated and unranked UCONN before hosting No. 8 West Virginia. They finish the season at Syracuse.