ARLINGTON, Texas — Desmond Ridder didn’t want to take on the burden of representing all the nontraditional schools in the CFP semifinal Cotton Bowl against top-ranked Alabama.
The breakthrough Bearcats held up pretty well despite Ridder’s offense going nowhere for long stretches Friday while the Alabama running game overwhelmed them in a 27-6 loss that ended an undefeated season.
Cincinnati (13-1) still had a chance when Bryan Cook intercepted Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young’s pass near midfield with Alabama leading by 11 late in the third quarter.
Ridder and the Bearcats went backward from there, and the Crimson Tide (13-1) extended the lead to 24-6 on the next possession after avoiding a three-and-out by converting on third-and-16.