It’s a tale as old as College Football itself non-traditional, programs aren’t allowed to sit at the table with the traditional programs just because folks are scared of what could happen. Well, change is on the horizon, and that change comes in the form of the Cincinnati Bearcats, an undefeated juggernaut from the American Athletic Conference who has gone 35-6 over the last four seasons under Head Coach Luke Fickell. Not to mention, Cincinnati just signed the papers to join forces with the Big 12 conference making them an honorary member of the Power Five Conference effective immediately.

Just this past weekend, Cincinnati traveled to South Bend, Indiana, to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. With so much on the line for the Bearcats, it was easily the biggest game in program history, and once again, Head Coach Luke Fickell had his boys ready to play. From the opening kickoff, Cincinnati imposed their will on the mighty Notre Dame Fighting Irish. For Cincinnati, the 24-13 win over the Fighting Irish was the final stone they needed to complete the climb to be taken seriously as one of the best teams in College Football.

In just five years as Head Coach, Coach Fickell has also turned Cincinnati Football into one of the most talked-about College Football brands in the country. Sure, they aren’t on the level of Alabama, Georgia, Texas, or any of those brands, but Cincinnati has turned into a household name almost overnight. Large in part because winning and not only winning but winning in the fashion that Cincinnati does it makes it fun. Not to mention, everybody loves a Cinderella story, an underdog who does things differently but has the same result as those with more traditional ways of thinking.

Plus, the Bearcats have a legitimate shot at punching their ticket to the 2021-2022 College Football Playoffs. Now, before you get all in a wad, Cincinnati has put in their time, and with the win over Notre Dame, the Bearcats have all but clinched a bid to the College Football Playoffs. Truthfully, the Bearcats are everything Boise State would have been ten years ago. The only difference is they have a legit shot at proving themselves instead of some computer model deciding for them.

Cincinnati also has a quarterback who is a legitimate Heisman Trophy Contender in Desmond Ridder. Throughout the last two seasons, Ridder has proven time in and time out why he belongs in the running for the Heisman Trophy. Ridder is a once-in-a-lifetime type player, and finally, he’s getting the much-deserved credit that he’s worked for so long to obtain.

As far as the rest of the season goes? Honestly, enjoy the journey that Cincinnati is on because once they fall off, they’ll be another program right behind them, hungry and ready to turn the entire College Football world upside down. As far as the Bearcats go, all they have to do is win out. It’s that simple. If Coach Fickell and his Bearcats win out, they’ll be in the 2021-2022 College Football Playoffs without any doubt in the minds of any College Football fan across the country.