Fletcher Page, fpage@enquirer..com
Cincinnati football has positioned itself to host the AAC championship game and play in the Cotton Bowl.
The Bearcats (7-1, 4-0) checked in as the highest-ranked Group of Five team at No. 20 on Tuesday in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, ahead of No. 21 Memphis, No. 23 Boise State, No. 24 Navy and No. 25 SMU.
Of course, UC must hold serve the next three weeks against UConn, USF and Temple.
If so, that sets Cincinnati and Memphis, the current AAC West Division leader, into a regular-season finale matchup with the winner likely securing homefield advantage in the conference championship for the easier track to the guaranteed New Year's Six bowl bid.