| Mode: | football |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Cincinnati Bearcats |
| Conference: | American Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | AAC |
| Coachrank: | 4 |
| Aprank: | 4 |
| Record: | 13–1 |
| Conf Record: | 8–0 |
| Head Coach: | Luke Fickell |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Off Coach: | Mike Denbrock |
| Oc Year: | 5th |
| Def Coach: | Mike Tressel |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Off Scheme: | Multiple |
| Def Scheme: | 3–3–5 |
| Stadium: | Nippert Stadium |
| Champion: | AAC champion |
| Conf Champ: | AAC Championship Game |
| Conf Champ Result: | W 35–20 vs. Houston |
| Bowl: | Cotton Bowl Classic (CFP semifinal) |
| Bowl Result: | L 6–27 vs. Alabama |
The 2021 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats played their home games at Nippert Stadium and competed as members of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). They were led by fifth-year head coach Luke Fickell.
Coming off a 9–1 season and a Peach Bowl appearance in 2020, Cincinnati began the 2021 season ranked eight in the preseason AP Poll. The team secured a signature non-conference win by defeating then-No. 9 Notre Dame on the road, 24–13, in the fourth game of the year. The Bearcats capped an undefeated regular season by defeating Houston in the American Conference championship game. In the final College Football Playoff rankings of the season, in which the Bearcats were the last remaining undefeated team, Cincinnati was ranked No. 4, earning them a spot in the national semi-final game to be played at the Cotton Bowl. This marked the first time a team from one of the Group of Five conferences was selected for a playoff spot.[1] In that game, Cincinnati lost to first-seeded Alabama, 27–6, ending Cincinnati's season with an 13–1 record, and they were ranked fourth in the final polls. These marked the most wins and highest poll finish in Cincinnati program history.[2]
Cincinnati's offense was led by quarterback Desmond Ridder, who led the AAC in passer efficiency rating and was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year. Ridder threw for 3,334 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season. Running back Jerome Ford led the conference in rushing with 1,319 yards and 19 touchdowns.[3] Three Bearcat offensive lineman were named to the first team All-Conference: Lorenz Metz, Dylan O’Quinn, and Jake Renfro. On defense, the team was led by consensus All-American and AAC Defensive Player of the Year, cornerback Sauce Gardner. Cornerback Coby Bryant was also named to the first-team All-Conference and several All-America teams, and was the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award. Linebacker Joel Dublanko led the team in tackles, and defensive lineman Curtis Brooks led the conference in sacks. Head coach Luke Fickell was the recipient of several national and the American Conference's Coach of the Year awards. Nine Cincinnati players were selected in the 2022 NFL draft, including fourth-overall pick Sauce Gardner.
After the 2020 season, Marcus Freeman was announced as the defensive coordinator for Notre Dame.[4] Mike Tressel was hired to replace Freeman as defensive coordinator, returning Tressel to Cincinnati where he had coached from 2004 to 2006.[5] [6]
Darren Paige was named the new running backs coach after the departure of Dan Enos.[7]
| + class="nowrap" | 2021 Cincinnati offseason departures | ||||||
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | 6’0 | 205 | Senior | Graduated | ||
| 5 | S | 6’ 0" | 200 | Senior | Graduated | ||
| Jarell White | 8 | LB | 5’ 10" | 205 | Senior | Graduated | |
| Ethan Tucky | 19 | DE | 6’ 2" | 245 | Senior | Graduated | |
| 23 | RB | 6’ 0" | 230 | Senior | Graduated | ||
| Cameron Young | 25 | RB | 5’ 11" | 230 | Senior | Graduated | |
| James Smith | 37 | P | 6’ 5" | 235 | Senior | Graduated | |
| Michael Pitts | 43 | DE | 6’ 4" | 248 | Senior | Graduated | |
| 55 | OL | 6’ 5" | 310 | Junior | Declared for the NFL draft | ||
| Darius Harper | 58 | OL | 6’ 7" | 308 | Senior | Graduated | |
| Bruno Labelle | 87 | TE | 6’ 4" | 248 | Senior | Graduated | |
| Elijah Ponder | 93 | DT | 6’ 3" | 275 | Senior | Graduated | |
Outgoing
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | New School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayshon Jackson | WR | 5' 10" | 175 | Senior | Ball State | |
| Zach Hummell | OL | 6' 2" | 285 | Sophomore | Miami (OH) | |
| Jakari Robinson | C | 6' 2" | 308 | Senior | Memphis | |
| QB | 6' 3" | 218 | Junior | Eastern Michigan | ||
| Michael Lindauer | QB | 6' 3" | 218 | Sophomore | Southern Illinois | |
| Dorian Holloway | LB | 6' 3" | 215 | Sophomore | Youngstown State | |
| Steven Hawthorne | DE | 6' 4" | 227 | Sophomore | Central State | |
| Kobe McAllister | OL | 6' 6" | 293 | Sophomore | Chattanooga | |
Incoming
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Prev. School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT | 6' 2" | 295 | Sophomore | Virginia | ||
| Devin Hightower | LB | 6' 1" | 225 | Sophomore | Michigan State | |
| James Tunstall | OT | 6' 6" | 329 | Junior | Stony Brook | |
Listed in the order that they were released
| Walter Camp Award[8] | Sauce Gardner | CB | Jr. | |
| Myjai Sanders | DE | Sr. | ||
| Lott Impact Trophy[9] | Coby Bryant | CB | GS | |
| Dodd Trophy[10] | Luke Fickell | |||
| Maxwell Award[11] | Desmond Ridder | QB | Sr. | |
| Bednarik Award[12] | Sauce Gardner | CB | Jr. | |
| Myjai Sanders | DE | Sr. | ||
| Davey O'Brien Award[13] | Desmond Ridder | QB | Sr. | |
| Mackey Award[14] | Josh Whyle | TE | Jr. | |
| Thorpe Award[15] | Coby Bryant | CB | GS | |
| Sauce Gardner | CB | Jr. | ||
| Nagurski Trophy[16] | Sauce Gardner | CB | Jr. | |
| Myjai Sanders | DE | Sr. | ||
| Walter Camp Award[17] | Desmond Ridder | QB | Sr. | |
| Manning Award[18] | Desmond Ridder | QB | Sr. |
The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021.[19] Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.
| Media poll | |||
| 1 | Cincinnati | 262 (22) | |
| 2 | UCF | 241 (2) | |
| 3 | SMU | 188 | |
| 4 | Houston | 181 | |
| 5 | Memphis | 168 | |
| 6 | Tulsa | 153 | |
| 7 | Tulane | 132 | |
| т-8 | East Carolina | 85 | |
| т-8 | Navy | 85 | |
| 10 | Temple | 46 | |
| 11 | South Florida | 43 | |
The Bearcats' 2021 schedule consists of six home games and six away games. Cincinnati hosted two of its four non-conference games; Miami (OH) from the Mid-American Conference for their annual Victory Bell game and Murray State from the Ohio Valley Conference. They travelled to Indiana of the Big Ten Conference, and to Notre Dame in their first meeting against former Bearcats head coach Brian Kelly, winning both contests.[20]
With the departure of UConn before the 2020 season, the American eliminated divisions for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The Bearcats 2021 schedule included eight conference games – four home games and four road games. Cincinnati hosted Temple, UCF, Tulsa and SMU. They traveled to Navy, Tulane, South Florida, and East Carolina.[21]
Schedule Source:[22]