Cincy claims AAC crown; strengthen playoff case

CINCINNATI — Jerome Ford rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns, Desmond Ridder threw three touchdown passes and No. 3 Cincinnati broke open a close game in the third quarter and rolled past No. 16 Houston, 35-20, in the American Athletic Conference championship game Saturday.

The Bearcats who are ranked No. 4 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, are in position to become the first non-Power 5 team to qualify. The final rankings will be announced Sunday.

Head coach Luke Fickell believes the Bearcats have done enough.

“The resounding statement is what we did on that football field,” Fickell said. “Nobody is going to call and ask us what we think. I don’t think these guys can be denied that opportunity. It would be a shame.”

Cincinnati (13-0) which extended the nation’s secondlongest home winning streak to 27, scored three touchdowns in fewer than eight minutes to finish off its second straight AAC crown. The fans rushed the field amid a shower of confetti.

“I don’t really remember last year [after beating UCF in the AAC title game], but this year I wanted to get out there and celebrate with the fans,” Ridder said. “It’s a blessing to have never lost a game I’ve played at Nippert. We have such a great atmosphere here.”

Cougars junior QB Clayton Tune passed for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception as Houston (11-2) lost for the first time since dropping its season-opener to Texas Tech on Sept. 4.

It was a wild first quarter on

Saturday with the teams combining for 24 points and 316 yards.

After the Cougars settled for a field goal on their opening possession, the Bearcats responded by going 82 yards in five plays capped by Ridder’s 25-yard TD pass to Tyler Scott.

Nathaniel Dell’s diving 16yard TD catch put the Cougars back in front, 10-7. But on the first play of Cincinnati’s next possession, Ford broke free for a 79-yard TD run to give the Bearcats a four-point lead.

“We went toe to toe with them for as long as we could,” Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen said. “They are first-class and deserving of top four. I don’t know how you keep Cincinnati out.”

Cincinnati led 14-13 at halftime despite Houston having possession for more than 22 minutes.

“Going into the half, it was a battle,” Fickell said. —AP