Cincinnati

FBSHeartbreak#4015.5

Big 12 · Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

Live2026:5-3(2-3 in conference)273–234L1from ESPN, hourly

The Heartbreak Index5.5 · #401

The Damned · Never won it, waiting since 1954

5.5

Heartbreak

#401

of 1,138 clubs

in CFB

4.1

agony · 1.4 despair

The clocks

First CFB title since 19545.7
First CFB final appearance since 19541.4

Heaviest wounds

fell one round short, 2021 · playoff run died early, 2020 · playoff run died early, 2019 · playoff run died early, 2009

One formula, every club the site covers. See the whole board →

441-452-15

All-time

0.486

Win %

National titles

Conf titles

Major bowls

Playoff apps

Weeks at #1

Heismans

Greatest games

Cincinnati's top games of all time by Game Score.

Sort by

Cotton Bowl

#4 Cincinnati 6-27 #1 Alabama

AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas

Playoff

2021 · Dec 31, 2021

1.07

Game Score

Peach Bowl

#8 Cincinnati 21-24 #7 Georgia

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Major Bowl

2020 · Jan 1, 2021

0.85

Game Score

American Athletic Championship Game

#6 Cincinnati 27-24 #22 Tulsa

Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Conf Title

2020 · Dec 19, 2020

0.82

Game Score

Sugar Bowl

#4 Cincinnati 24-51 #5 Florida

Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Major Bowl

2009 · Jan 1, 2010

0.77

Game Score

American Athletic Championship Game

#3 Cincinnati 35-20 #16 Houston

Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Conf Title

2021 · Dec 4, 2021

0.77

Game Score

#5 Cincinnati 45-44 #14 Pittsburgh

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Conf Game

2009 · Dec 5, 2009

0.77

Game Score

#18 Cincinnati 24-34 #17 Memphis

Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tennessee

Conf Game

2019 · Nov 29, 2019

0.64

Game Score

#5 Cincinnati 24-21 West Virginia

Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Conf Game

2009 · Nov 13, 2009

0.61

Game Score

American Athletic Championship Game

#21 Cincinnati 24-29 #16 Memphis

Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tennessee

Conf Title

2019 · Dec 7, 2019

0.61

Game Score

#7 Cincinnati 36-33 Central Florida

Bounce House, Orlando, Florida

Conf Game

2020 · Nov 21, 2020

0.60

Game Score

#			Bowl	Match	Designation
1	Dec 31, 2021	2021	Cotton Bowl	#4 Cincinnati 6-27 #1 Alabama AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas Playoff	Playoff	game score 1.07
2	Jan 1, 2021	2020	Peach Bowl	#8 Cincinnati 21-24 #7 Georgia Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia Major Bowl	Major Bowl	game score 0.85
3	Dec 19, 2020	2020	American Athletic Championship Game	#6 Cincinnati 27-24 #22 Tulsa Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio Conf Title	Conf Title	game score 0.82
4	Jan 1, 2010	2009	Sugar Bowl	#4 Cincinnati 24-51 #5 Florida Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana Major Bowl	Major Bowl	game score 0.77
5	Dec 4, 2021	2021	American Athletic Championship Game	#3 Cincinnati 35-20 #16 Houston Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio Conf Title	Conf Title	game score 0.77
6	Dec 5, 2009	2009		#5 Cincinnati 45-44 #14 Pittsburgh Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Conf Game	Conf Game	game score 0.77
7	Nov 29, 2019	2019		#18 Cincinnati 24-34 #17 Memphis Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tennessee Conf Game	Conf Game	game score 0.64
8	Nov 13, 2009	2009		#5 Cincinnati 24-21 West Virginia Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio Conf Game	Conf Game	game score 0.61
9	Dec 7, 2019	2019	American Athletic Championship Game	#21 Cincinnati 24-29 #16 Memphis Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tennessee Conf Title	Conf Title	game score 0.61
10	Nov 21, 2020	2020		#7 Cincinnati 36-33 Central Florida Bounce House, Orlando, Florida Conf Game	Conf Game	game score 0.60

Season by season

Covers NCAA major, I-AA/FCS and their NCAA precursors (College Division 1962-72, Division II 1973-77) only. NAIA, Division III and club seasons are not included.

2026In progress5-3

Cincinnati · Big 12

Conf record

2-3

AP, as of Nov 1

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

20257-6

Cincinnati · Big 12

Conf record

5-4

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

#17

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Liberty Bowl (L)

20245-7

Cincinnati · Big 12

Conf record

3-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

20233-9

Cincinnati · Big 12

Conf record

1-8

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

20229-4

Cincinnati · American Athletic

Conf record

6-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

#20

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Fenway Bowl (L)

202113-1

Cincinnati · American Athletic (West)

Conf record

9-0

AP final

Coach final

AP high

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Cotton Bowl (L)MajorCFP

20209-1

Cincinnati · American Athletic (West)

Conf record

7-0

AP final

Coach final

AP high

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Peach Bowl (L)MajorCFP

201911-3

Cincinnati · American Athletic (East)

Conf record

7-1

AP final

#21

Coach final

#21

AP high

#17

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Birmingham Bowl (W)

201811-2

Cincinnati · American Athletic (East)

Conf record

6-2

AP final

#24

Coach final

#23

AP high

#19

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Military Bowl (W)

20174-8

Cincinnati · American Athletic (East)

Conf record

2-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

20164-8

Cincinnati · American Athletic (East)

Conf record

1-7

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

20157-6

Cincinnati · American Athletic (East)

Conf record

4-4

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Hawaii Bowl (L)

20149-4

Cincinnati · American Athletic

Conf record

7-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Military Bowl (L)

20139-4

Cincinnati · American Athletic

Conf record

6-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Belk Bowl (L)

201210-3

Cincinnati · Big East

Conf record

5-2

AP final

—

Coach final

#22

AP high

#21

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Belk Bowl (W)

201110-3

Cincinnati · Big East

Conf record

5-2

AP final

#25

Coach final

#21

AP high

#23

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Liberty Bowl (W)

20104-8

Cincinnati · Big East

Conf record

2-5

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

200912-1

Cincinnati · Big East

Conf record

7-0

AP final

Coach final

AP high

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Sugar Bowl (L)MajorBCS

200811-3

Cincinnati · Big East

Conf record

6-1

AP final

#17

Coach final

#17

AP high

#12

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Orange Bowl (L)MajorBCS

200710-3

Cincinnati · Big East

Conf record

4-3

AP final

#17

Coach final

#20

AP high

#15

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Papajohns.com Bowl (W)

20068-5

Cincinnati · Big East

Conf record

4-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

International Bowl (W)

20054-7

Cincinnati · Big East

Conf record

2-5

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

20047-5

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

5-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Fort Worth Bowl (W)

20035-7

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

2-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

20027-7

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

6-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

Bowl

New Orleans Bowl (L)

20017-5

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

5-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Motor City Bowl (L)

20007-5

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

5-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Motor City Bowl (L)

19993-8

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

0-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19982-9

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

1-5

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19978-4

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

2-4

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Humanitarian Bowl (W)

19966-5

Cincinnati · Conference USA

Conf record

2-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19956-5

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19942-8-1

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19938-3

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19923-8

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19914-7

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19901-10

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19891-9-1

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19883-8

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19874-7

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19865-6

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19855-6

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19842-9

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19834-6-1

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19826-5

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19816-5

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19802-9

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19792-9

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19785-6

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19775-4-2

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19768-3

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

#20

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19756-5

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19747-4

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19734-7

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19722-9

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19717-4

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19707-4

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19694-6

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

2-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19685-4-1

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

2-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19673-6

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

2-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19663-7

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

2-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19655-5

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

1-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19648-2

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

3-0

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

19636-4

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

2-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

19622-8

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

1-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19613-7

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

1-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19604-6

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

1-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19595-4-1

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

0-3-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19586-2-2

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

1-1-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19575-4-1

Cincinnati · Missouri Valley

Conf record

1-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19564-5

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19551-6-2

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

19548-2

Cincinnati · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

#12

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Year	School	Record	Conference	Div	Conf	Champ App	Conf Champ	AP	Coach	High	Bowl / notes
2026In progress	Cincinnati	5-3	Big 12		2-3			NRas of Nov 1
2025	Cincinnati	7-6	Big 12		5-4					#17	Liberty Bowl (L)
2024	Cincinnati	5-7	Big 12		3-6
2023	Cincinnati	3-9	Big 12		1-8
2022	Cincinnati	9-4	American Athletic		6-2					#20	Fenway Bowl (L)
2021	Cincinnati	13-1	American Athletic	West	9-0	✓	★	#4	#4	#2	Cotton Bowl (L)MajorCFP
2020	Cincinnati	9-1	American Athletic	West	7-0	✓	★	#8	#8	#6	Peach Bowl (L)MajorCFP
2019	Cincinnati	11-3	American Athletic	East	7-1	✓		#21	#21	#17	Birmingham Bowl (W)
2018	Cincinnati	11-2	American Athletic	East	6-2			#24	#23	#19	Military Bowl (W)
2017	Cincinnati	4-8	American Athletic	East	2-6
2016	Cincinnati	4-8	American Athletic	East	1-7
2015	Cincinnati	7-6	American Athletic	East	4-4						Hawaii Bowl (L)
2014	Cincinnati	9-4	American Athletic		7-1		★				Military Bowl (L)
2013	Cincinnati	9-4	American Athletic		6-2						Belk Bowl (L)
2012	Cincinnati	10-3	Big East		5-2		★		#22	#21	Belk Bowl (W)
2011	Cincinnati	10-3	Big East		5-2		★	#25	#21	#23	Liberty Bowl (W)
2010	Cincinnati	4-8	Big East		2-5
2009	Cincinnati	12-1	Big East		7-0		★	#8	#9	#4	Sugar Bowl (L)MajorBCS
2008	Cincinnati	11-3	Big East		6-1		★	#17	#17	#12	Orange Bowl (L)MajorBCS
2007	Cincinnati	10-3	Big East		4-3			#17	#20	#15	Papajohns.com Bowl (W)
2006	Cincinnati	8-5	Big East		4-3						International Bowl (W)
2005	Cincinnati	4-7	Big East		2-5
2004	Cincinnati	7-5	Conference USA		5-3						Fort Worth Bowl (W)
2003	Cincinnati	5-7	Conference USA		2-6
2002	Cincinnati	7-7	Conference USA		6-2		★				New Orleans Bowl (L)
2001	Cincinnati	7-5	Conference USA		5-2						Motor City Bowl (L)
2000	Cincinnati	7-5	Conference USA		5-2						Motor City Bowl (L)
1999	Cincinnati	3-8	Conference USA		0-6
1998	Cincinnati	2-9	Conference USA		1-5
1997	Cincinnati	8-4	Conference USA		2-4						Humanitarian Bowl (W)
1996	Cincinnati	6-5	Conference USA		2-3
1995	Cincinnati	6-5	Independent
1994	Cincinnati	2-8-1	Independent
1993	Cincinnati	8-3	Independent
1992	Cincinnati	3-8	Independent
1991	Cincinnati	4-7	Independent
1990	Cincinnati	1-10	Independent
1989	Cincinnati	1-9-1	Independent
1988	Cincinnati	3-8	Independent
1987	Cincinnati	4-7	Independent
1986	Cincinnati	5-6	Independent
1985	Cincinnati	5-6	Independent
1984	Cincinnati	2-9	Independent
1983	Cincinnati	4-6-1	Independent
1982	Cincinnati	6-5	Independent
1981	Cincinnati	6-5	Independent
1980	Cincinnati	2-9	Independent
1979	Cincinnati	2-9	Independent
1978	Cincinnati	5-6	Independent
1977	Cincinnati	5-4-2	Independent
1976	Cincinnati	8-3	Independent							#20
1975	Cincinnati	6-5	Independent
1974	Cincinnati	7-4	Independent
1973	Cincinnati	4-7	Independent
1972	Cincinnati	2-9	Independent
1971	Cincinnati	7-4	Independent
1970	Cincinnati	7-4	Independent
1969	Cincinnati	4-6	Missouri Valley		2-3
1968	Cincinnati	5-4-1	Missouri Valley		2-2
1967	Cincinnati	3-6	Missouri Valley		2-2
1966	Cincinnati	3-7	Missouri Valley		2-2
1965	Cincinnati	5-5	Missouri Valley		1-2
1964	Cincinnati	8-2	Missouri Valley		3-0		★
1963	Cincinnati	6-4	Missouri Valley		2-1		★
1962	Cincinnati	2-8	Missouri Valley		1-2
1961	Cincinnati	3-7	Missouri Valley		1-2
1960	Cincinnati	4-6	Missouri Valley		1-2
1959	Cincinnati	5-4-1	Missouri Valley		0-3-1
1958	Cincinnati	6-2-2	Missouri Valley		1-1-2
1957	Cincinnati	5-4-1	Missouri Valley		1-2
1956	Cincinnati	4-5	Independent
1955	Cincinnati	1-6-2	Independent
1954	Cincinnati	8-2	Independent							#12

Award winners

8 major award winners and consensus All-Americans.

Ivan Pace Jr.2022

Consensus All-AmericanLB

Luke Fickell2021

AFCA Coach of the Year AwardCoach

Sauce Gardner2021

Consensus All-AmericanDB

Coby Bryant2021

Jim Thorpe AwardDB

Kevin Huber2008

Consensus All-AmericanP

Kevin Huber2007

Consensus All-AmericanP

Jonathan Ruffin2000

Consensus All-AmericanPK

Jonathan Ruffin2000

Lou Groza AwardPK

Year	Player	Pos	Award
2022	Ivan Pace Jr.	LB	Consensus All-American
2021	Luke Fickell	Coach	AFCA Coach of the Year Award
2021	Sauce Gardner	DB	Consensus All-American
2021	Coby Bryant	DB	Jim Thorpe Award
2008	Kevin Huber	P	Consensus All-American
2007	Kevin Huber	P	Consensus All-American
2000	Jonathan Ruffin	PK	Consensus All-American
2000	Jonathan Ruffin	PK	Lou Groza Award

The Heartbreak Index5.5 · #401▸

Greatest games

Season by season

Award winners

The Heartbreak Index5.5 · #401