No. 21 Cincinnati will try to build on its five-game winning streak when it faces SMU on Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats are coming off a 28-24 win over South Florida, keeping them on pace to win the American Athletic Conference. SMU was able to snap a three-game skid with a 40-34 win over Navy last week.
Cincinnati opened the season with aspirations of going back to the College Football Playoff, but it had those hopes dashed in a season-opening loss against then-No. 19 Arkansas. The Bearcats have not allowed that disappointment to bleed into their other games, as they have rattled off a five-game winning streak since then. They have only played one other game away from home, which came in a 31-21 win at Tulsa earlier this month. Cincinnati is not coming off its best performance, barely beating South Florida as a 27-point favorite, but the Bearcats had a week off to reset before this game.
Ivan Pace Jr. has been selected as a Midseason First Team All-American by @TheAthletic. ??
??: https://t.co/fXrtPvd0Lf#Bearcats | @ivan_pacejr pic.twitter.com/7yuPpZAbJZ
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) October 18, 2022
They have been one of the most consistent offensive teams in the country, scoring at least 28 points in all six of their games. Senior quarterback Ben Bryant has thrown for 1,561 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, but left the South Florida game with a concussion in the fourth quarter and is questionable to play on Saturday. Running back Charles McClelland rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Bulls and he will play a key role on Saturday if Bryant is unable to go. He is facing an SMU defense that has allowed the ninth-most rushing yards per game in the FBS (209).