Having missed out on a share of the American Athletic Conference championship Thursday night due to an overtime loss to Louisville, Cincinnati has announced where they will be heading next. Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville made the announcement on Twitter, and the destination is somewhat familiar for Bearcats fans.
Cincinnati played in the Belk Bowl last year, defeating Duke 48-34. Quarterback Brendon Kay was the game’s most valuable player after going 17-for-25 for 332 yards and four touchdowns. An 83-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce gave Cincinnati a 41-34 lead in the final minute of the game, and a Nick Temple‘s 55-yard interception return for a touchdown served as the cherry on top fo a wild Belk Bowl that had gone back and forth in the second half before the final minute of the game.
Proud to announce the #Bearcats have accepted a bid to the @belkbowl. We learn our opponent Sun. Get your tickets at http://t.co/cmViboOJFc.
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) December 6, 2013
Cincinnati played in the Belk Bowl last year, defeating Duke 48-34. Quarterback Brendon Kay was the game’s most valuable player after going 17-for-25 for 332 yards and four touchdowns. An 83-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce gave Cincinnati a 41-34 lead in the final minute of the game, and a Nick Temple‘s 55-yard interception return for a touchdown served as the cherry on top fo a wild Belk Bowl that had gone back and forth in the second half before the final minute of the game.
Cincinnati lost their head coach, Butch Jones, to Tennessee prior to last year’s bowl game. With the coaching carousel in season now, Tuberville might be an interesting name to keep an eye on as jobs become open, but it looks like a decent shot Cincinnati will not have to go through the bowl game with an interim head coach this season.
Central Florida clinched the American’s automatic BCS berth as a result o f Cincinnati’s loss to Louisville. Louisville has already accepted a spot in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando.