Bearcats, Panthers vie for BCS

The University of Cincinnati football team (8-2, 4-1 Big East) will face the University of Pittsburgh (7-2, 3-1 Big East) in a game that could decide who will represent the Big East in a BCS bowl game.

The Bearcats have never beaten the Panthers and lost 24-17 at Pittsburgh in 2007.

“Not only have we not beat them last year, but Pittsburgh hasn’t been at the top of the Big East like West Virginia has, and we still haven’t been able to beat them,” senior Connor Barwin said. “So that’s a lot of motivation for us seniors to finally get out here by beating them.”

Cincinnati is coming to the end of a tough stretch of games, and Barwin said he feels like this is finally UC’s season to take home the Big East title.

“It seems like things are falling into place,” Barwin said. “Against West Virginia bad things happened at the end, but we still pulled it out. And then Louisville was ugly at times, and we were still able to get the victory. I think it does feel like it’s my year, but I’m going to say that regardless, because I’m a senior, and I hope it’s true.”

The Bearcats have a tough task ahead of them and will have to try to stop one of the best running backs in the country if they are going to have a chance to win the game.

LeSean McCoy has scored 16 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,043 yards in nine games this season.

McCoy is averaging five yards per carry, and his speed and agility could cause the Bearcats defense a lot of trouble, as Cincinnati has struggled against good running backs this season.

Donald Brown ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns in Connecticut’s 40-16 win against UC, and McCoy ran for 137 yards in Pittsburgh’s win last year.

Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly said Pittsburgh still has a good run game, but they are not a one-dimensional team anymore.

“I think what they bring to the table is great balance in everything that they do,” Kelly said.“Offensively, last year they were more of a one-dimensional team with LeSean McCoy, because they had a true freshman at quarterback, so they kept it as simple as possible for him.

"This year with Stull, who is a veteran quarterback, they’ve got a very good passing game, great play action; they’ve got talented receivers that can go up and get the football – our corners are going to be challenged.”

This season junior quarterback Bill Stull has completed 141-of-237 passes (59.5 percent) for 1,778 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Stull will face a formidable UC defense that is hitting its stride late in the season.

The Bearcats defense has recorded 17 sacks in its last six games after recording only three in its first three games, and UC has had five interceptions and two forced fumbles in its last three games.

Cincinnati will debut its new red jerseys for the first time and UC is dubbing the game the ring of red game; everyone in attendance is asked to wear red.

The Bearcats will play Pittsburgh at Nippert Stadium in possibly the biggest game in UC history on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN2.