DESMOND RIDDER

Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and No. 4 Cincinnati completed a perfect regular season by beating East Carolina 35-13.

APTOPIX SMU Cincinnati Football Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against SMU, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster) (Aaron Doster)Cincinnati moved into position to make the College Football Playoff on Tuesday night, climbing a spot to fourth behind Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama. A team from outside the Power Five conferences has never been selected for the semifinals in the previous seven years of the College Football Playoff. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Cincinnati has moved into position to make the College Football Playoff, climbing a spot to fourth behind Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama.

SMU Cincinnati Football Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder points skyward as he celebrates a touchdown by running back Jerome Ford during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against SMU, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Cincinnati. 3 Cincinnati roll past SMU 48-14 on Saturday. After Cincinnati forced SMU to punt on its first possession, Ridder found Tyler Scott wide open for a 53-yard scoring pass on the first play from scrimmage. Following a partially blocked punt by Wilson Huber, the Bearcats took over at the SMU 25 and Jerome Ford's 4-yard run made it 14-0 with 5:32 left in the first quarter. Alec Pierce caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Ridder and the Bearcats led 27-0 at halftime.

Desmond Ridder threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and even caught a TD pass to help No. 3 Cincinnati roll past SMU 48-14 on Saturday.

TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes to break the Cincinnati career record and ran for a score to help the No. Gino Guidugli, now Cincinnati’s quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, had 78 scoring passes from 2001-04. He had a 55-yard TD run with just over a minute remaining and finished with 72 yards on six carries. USF took a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter when Mangham had a 2-yard TD run. ___More AP AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes to break the Cincinnati career record and ran for a score to help the No. 2 Bearcats beat South Florida 45-28 on Friday night.

Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes to break the Cincinnati career record and ran for a score to help the No. 2 Bearcats beat South Florida 45-28 on Friday night. Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0 American Athletic, No. 5 CFP), one of four unbeaten FBS teams, has started the season with 10 consecutive wins for just the second time in school history. The Bearcats also did it in 2009, when they got off to a 12-0 start.

Tulsa Cincinnati Football Cincinnati defensive lineman Jabari Taylor (90) celebrates after securing a fumble in the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tulsa Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Cincinnati. 2 Cincinnati held off Tulsa 28-20 on Saturday. “It's about winning against a team that is a much better football team than their record shows.”Shamari Brooks ran for 132 yards for Tulsa (3-6, 2-3), and Anthony Watkins added 105. When Tulsa was stopped short on fourth down at the 4, it appeared the Bearcats would just run out the clock. Cincinnati outgained Tulsa 165-36 in the first quarter but was outgained 120-66 in the second.

Tulsa’s Steven Anderson fumbled as he was reaching for the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Jabari Taylor recovered for a touchback and No. 2 Cincinnati held off Tulsa 28-20.

Cincinnati Tulane Football Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tulane in New Orleans, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert)NEW ORLEANS — (AP) — Desmond Ridder twice connected with tight end Josh Whyle for touchdowns, and No. 2 Cincinnati remained unbeaten with a 31-12 victory Saturday over a struggling but feisty Tulane squad that kept the game competitive deep into the second half. Cincinnati looked primed to pull away when Evan Prater intercepted Horton's screen pass in Tulane territory, but Macon Clark intercepted Ridder several plays later, returning it to midfield. Tulane: Heading into the season, Tulane was expected to contend for a fourth straight bowl bid.

Desmond Ridder twice connected with tight end Josh Whyle for touchdowns and No. 2 Cincinnati remained unbeaten with a 31-12 victory over struggling Tulane.

UCF Cincinnati Football Cincinnati running back Jerome Ford (24) carries the ball as he breaks a tackle against UCF linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Cincinnati. 3 Cincinnati roll past UCF 56-21 on Saturday. The all-time series was tied 3-3 coming in, with the Bearcats winning the previous two meetings by a combined six points. ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Jerome Ford rushed for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns to help No. 3 Cincinnati roll past UCF 56-21.

No. 3 Cincinnati will try to show it belongs among the nation's elite teams.

The University of Central Florida Knights will play in the team’s biggest game of the season as UCF goes to Ohio to play against the No. 3 Cincinnati Bearcats at noon on Saturday.

Temple Cincinnati Football Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Temple, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster) (Aaron Doster)CINCINNATI — (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns and No. 5 Cincinnati routed Temple 52-3 on Friday night for its 23rd straight home victory. Ford had an 8-yard touchdown run to help the Bearcats build a 17-3 lead at halftime. Temple muffed another punt and the Bearcats cashed in with Tyler Scott's 38-yard catch-and-run touchdown that made it 31-3.

Desmond Ridder threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns and No. 5 Cincinnati routed Temple 52-3 on Friday night for its 23rd straight home victory.

Cincinnati Notre Dame Football Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder runs from Notre Dame's JD Bertrand (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. 9 Notre Dame 24-13 Saturday in a game the Bearcats hope can be the centerpiece of College Football Playoff resume. Cincinnati took advantage of three turnovers by Notre Dame in the first half to jump out to 17-0 lead. Jack Coan's pass was intercepted in the red zone by Ahmad Gardner on ill-advised throw under pressure that ended Notre Dame first and best drive of the half. Notre Dame: At Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score late in the fourth quarter as No. 7 Cincinnati capitalized on its big opportunity and beat No. 9 Notre Dame 24-13 in a game the Bearcats hope can be the centerpiece of a College Football Playoff resume.

Cincinnati Indiana Football Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) celebrates as he runs off the field following an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Bloomington, Ind. 12 Notre Dame as they aim to break up the Power Five's monopoly on College Football Playoff bids. Especially in a season when some of the usual superpowers in college football have looked less than super. “We’re going into the Big 12 in a couple years, but this can solidify us as a top-10 program.”___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP's college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

No. 8 Cincinnati took one small step toward playoff contention by rallying to beat Indiana.

Jerome Ford rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns and Desmond Ridder passed for 243 yards and two TDs to lead No. 7 Cincinnati past Murray State 42-7.

The Big 12 says BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston have been invited to join.

Georgia place kicker Jack Podlesny, offensive player of the game, stands with Georgia head coach Kirby Smart after the Peach Bowl NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in Atlanta. 6 Cincinnati its only loss of the season with a dramatic 24-21 victory in the Peach Bowl. Daniels, a Southern California transfer, passed for 392 yards while improving to a perfect 4-0 in four starts for Georgia. Podlesny’s winning kick tied a Peach Bowl record for longest field goal and gave Georgia a 22-21 lead. “I would feel much better if we just played our best game,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.

Cincinnati tight end Leonard Taylor (11) is stopped by Central Florida defensive back Richie Grant (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

7 Cincinnati Bearcats in front of a limited home crowd, the UCF Knights weren’t able to come out on top during the last home game of the season. TOUCHDOWN — #UCF takes back the lead over #Cincinnati. — UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) November 21, 2020UCF’s defense answered the call and caused Cincy to punt to close in the third quarter. TOUCHDOWN #UCF — the Knights score and bring it to a 3-point game after a successful two point conversion. pic.twitter.com/2mTX7rIkUL — UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) November 22, 2020UCF suffers its third loss of the season, falling to 5-3 on the year and 3-3 in AAC play.

Cincinnati wide receiver Michael Young Jr. holds the ball up as he scores a touchdown during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against East Carolina, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, in Cincinnati. 7 Cincinnati rout East Carolina 55-17 on Friday night. The preparation has been good.”In Cincinnati's three-point victory at East Carolina last year, the Pirates scored 43 points and piled up 638 yards. “Desmond Ridder is a talented quarterback," East Carolina coach Mike Houston said. After punting on three of its first four possessions, East Carolina (1-6, 1-5) drove 58 yards in three plays, pulling to 14-7 on Keaton Mitchell's 18-yard run.