Every Big 12 football program’s best season of all time

Cincinnati: 2021

With a defensive unit centered around star cornerback Sauce Gardner and offense led by quarterback Desmond Ridder, the Bearcats’ 2021 season ended up being one of the best non-Power 5 seasons in recent memory. The talented group received its doubters throughout the campaign, but Cincinnati held steady against the likes of Indiana, Notre Dame and Houston. With three ranked victories, head coach Luke Fickell piloted his team to a College Football Playoff berth, the first of any Group of Five team. With 13 wins and just one loss, the team’s success has since guided them to the recent move to the Big 12 conference.