Cincinnati Bearcats News

What do we want in the Big Ten's non-conference schedule this week? Illini rest.

Sporting News' Matt Hayes analyzes what Thursday's buzz means to college football. Replay madness If only college football were so simplistic. Ireland challenged France to replay a World Cup qualifying match after television replays clearly showed a French player touching the ball with his hand (an obvious no-no for the soccer ignorant) during an assist of a goal that gave France a 2-1 aggregate victory. FIFA has ruled out any prospect of a replay, but that hasn't stopped Ireland assistant... manager Liam Brady from throwing down the gauntlet: "Do you want to play the game in Paris? We'll play in Paris," he said. Imagine if, instead of choosing his words carefully, Les Miles stepped to the podium two weeks ago and said, "I challenge Nick Saban to a rematch. We'll go right back out there now and replay the last six minutes, starting with the LSU team getting the ball, first-and-10 at the 31." Or Bill Stewart challenging Brian Kelly: "Now, Bri, we both know that ball was fumbled. Let's do the right thing by these folks who paid good money, and go back out there and play a couple of overtimes." Or Bill Lynch to Rich Rodriguez: "You've got to be @#$%! kidding me. How can they make that @^%$@! call? You're getting your team on that @#$%! field right now." Self promotion Ben, babe, it's all about choosing the right time to make a statement. One week before the biggest game of your season? Not the right moment. So Auburn's Ben Tate thinks he's best tailback in the state of Alabama. That, of course, means he believes he's better than Alabama star Mark Ingram, who has more yards and more catches than Tate—and is the leader for that bronze trophy. Tate is part of a program in the middle of a rehab; Ingram's team could be playing for the national title. "I know I'm the best back in the state," Tate told reporters recently. Here's a little news for Tate: He may not be the second-best back in the state. Because I'm not sure Ingram is the best back on his own team. At the very least, Alabama freshman Trent Richardson has pushed Ingram enough to get 91 carries this season as a backup. A top-five recruit nationally last year, Richardson would start for most Division I programs—including the nation's No. 1 team, Florida. So go ahead and thump your chest, Big Ben. At least there will be some intrigue in the Iron Bowl. Judge and jury Seems as though we've finally found a solution to the Cincinnati quarterback quandary: a judge with a grudge. A judge in Cincinnati threatened Bearcats quarterback Zach Collaros with jail time if he doesn't immediately begin a court-ordered program on the dangers of underage drinking. Collaros, now 21, was 20 when he was accused of showing a fake ID at a bar. Judge Bernie Bouchard told Collaros he has until Dec. 7 to begin the diversionary program or face jail time. The max time he could receive: 180 days. I've got to think that part of Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly—a no-frills, accountability-first coach—had to like the way Bouchard treated Collaros. The judge's order will do more to keep Collaros focused amid his newfound fame than anything Kelly could have done. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

How good are the Cincinnati Bearcats? A look at their NCAA stats and their BCS chances.

CINCINNATI-Tony Pike is getting to run the Cincinnati Bearcats' high-powered passing offense this week, looking to use a bye to get back into starting form after his arm injury.

CINCINNATI-A judge warned University of Cincinnati sophomore quarterback Zach Collaros on Thursday that he could spend the bowl season in jail if he doesn't get his act together after being accused of showing a fake ID at a bar.

I've never watched the Cincinnati Bearcats play an entire game of football. Never.

We don't need a computer to determine Cincinnati's chances of making the Rose Bowl, so we likely won't get to see the Bearcats and Ohio State Buckeyes square off this season.

4+6=BCS?

Holiday and Sun Bowl selectors are salivating over the prospect of USC winding up in their games. Cincinnati appears on the verge of a perfect season ... or landing in the Meineke Car Care Bowl? And Notre Dame, whose tradition and following still make it attractive, is fighting to make the Gator Bowl. "It's important from our perspective for Notre Dame to excel in its last two games," Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett told Sporting News on Monday. As the bowl schedule starts to shake out, a... bunch of intriguing placements and match-ups are emerging. This week's top five, based on SN's bowl projections: 1. Outback: Penn State vs. Tennessee The skinny: Two great defenses stocked with future pros and top coordinators in Tennessee's Monte Kiffin and Penn State's Tom Bradley. But Joe Paterno vs. Lane Kiffin might break the ratings meter. College football's bookends—the nation's oldest coach vs. the nation's youngest—would highlight the postseason. 2. Meineke: Cincinnati vs. Florida State The skinny: An 11-1 Cincinnati squad could fall to Charlotte with a loss at Pitt and the Gator choosing Notre Dame. "There are going to be a lot of really good options out there for us," Meineke game executive director Will Webb said. The coaching duel is the hook here —up-and-coming Brian Kelly against beleaguered grandpa Bobby Bowden. 3. Orange: Clemson vs. Boise State The skinny:Offense, anybody? Kellen Moore and the Boise State juggernaut will go score-for-score with speedy C.J. Spiller and the Tigers. Clemson would fight to avoid losing to both TCU and the Broncos in a four-month stretch. Related Links Hayes projects the BCS games Curtis: Projecting every bowl matchup 4. Holiday: USC vs. Oklahoma State The skinny: The Trojans have a great defensive coach with an underperforming unit. The Cowboys have a great offensive coach with an injury-plagued unit. A little redemption here for two teams that started the season thinking BCS. 5. Liberty: Houston vs. Arkansas The skinny: This one features Houston's Case Keenum, one of the nation's top college quarterbacks, against the Hogs' Ryan Mallett, possibly the country's top pro quarterback prospect. Dave Curtis is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at dcurtis@sportingnews.com.more>>

LANDOVER, Md.-Virginia Tech has secured yet another game in the D.C. suburbs, agreeing to play Cincinnati at the Washington Redskins stadium in 2012.