Tigers, Bearcats battle for AAC title

Saturday, December 7

Memphis, Tenn.

2:30 pm CT

University of Memphis

#21/21 Cincinnati (AAC Championship Game)

Tickets

Tigers, Cincinnati to meet in AAC Championship game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Dec 06, 2019 | Football

Memphis AAC Championship Game Notes Cincinnati AAC Championship Game Notes American Athletic Conference Championship Game Notes

Winner likely to earn spot in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – They meet again, this time for something more substantial, in fact, something historic.

The winner of Saturday's American Athletic Conference Championship game between the University of Memphis and Cincinnati at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium likely will secure a spot in the Dec. 28 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, a major step for whichever program advances.

For the 16^th-ranked Tigers, who clinched the American's West Division title last Friday against Cincinnati, they'll face a difficult task. They'll have to beat the No. 21 Bearcats for a second-straight week.

The Bearcats held the Tigers to 34 points – the UofM's lowest output since Oct. 12 – in last Friday's 34-24 Memphis victory and are expecting to be as unyielding again.

"They are a good football team," said Memphis coach Mike Norvell. "You have to maximize the moment when you get it."

Norvell's Tigers have been impressive, too. Ranked in the Top 25 for the majority of the season, the UofM won 11 games in the regular season for the first in the program's history.

They are led by quarterback Brady White, running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Patrick Taylor, receivers Damonte Coxie, Antonio Gibson and Kedarian Jones and a defense featuring an abundance of playmakers, from end Bryce Huff and linebacker Austin Hall to strong safety Sanchez Blake.

The Tigers are appearing in the conference championship for the third straight season. They are hosting for the first time.

"This is one of the most impressive years, satisfying years, I've seen a football team grow and the way they've had to respond to adversity," Norvell said. "We're a very young football team, but they've grown up. It sets up well. This will be a great opportunity (against) a great opponent."

The UofM placed 14 on the various all-conference squads earlier this week, including three – Gainwell, Gibson and kicker Riley Patterson – on the first team. Gibson earned co-AAC Special Teams Player of the Year and Gainwell was named AAC Rookie of the Year.

Gainwell has rushed for 1,381 yards, a total that leads the nation's freshmen running backs.

In last week's win over the Bearcats, the Tigers amassed 432 yards against one of the league's best defensive squads. Cincinnati leads the conference in scoring defense (allowing 21.1 points per game) and is second in rushing defense, yielding 140.6 yards per game.

The Tigers were able to outlast the Bearcats behind White, WHO passed for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Gainwell added 87 yards on 15 carries, while Damonte Coxie had six receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown, his ninth TD of the season to lead all UofM receivers.

Cincinnati (10-2, 7-1 American) clinched the East Division title before last week's game and was pursuing an unbeaten conference record. Memphis (11-1, 7-1) suffered its only loss at Temple, a 30-28 defeat.

The Bearcats may have starting quarterback Desmond Ridder back. Ridder, a redshirt sophomore, was unable to play in last week's game because of a shoulder injury, snapping a string of 23 consecutive starts. Redshirt freshman Ben Bryant made his first start and passed for 229 yards and a touchdown.

"We held him out last week, he said he was ready to go and he wanted to go," Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said. "We just didn't feel like maybe he had the pop he needed. We're trying to be smart with him."

NOTES

The win over Cincinnati last week was the 500^th for the Memphis football program.
The winner of the AAC Championship game will be eligible to be selected for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic as part of the College Football Playoff selection process.
Memphis coach Mike Norvell won his 37^th game as Tigers' coach last week against Cincinnati. His .712 winning percentage is the highest in program history. His 37 wins rank fifth among Tiger coaches.
Cincinnati will be seeking its fourth 11-win season. The Bearcats won 11 game last season and in 2008 and 2009.
The Tigers are one of eight teams in Football Bowl Subdivision history to reach three consecutive conference championship games.