The Cincinnati Bearcats are back in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Cincinnati re-entered the rankings at No. 25 Tuesday night following its 27-25 win over East Carolina Friday night at Nippert Stadium. It's the Bearcats' first appearance in the rankings since finishing last season at No. 4 and becoming the first Group of Five team to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
UC lost to top-ranked Alabama in last season's CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal.
The highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion in the final CFP rankings will play in a New Year's Six bowl, specifically the Cotton Bowl, where the Bearcats lost to the Crimson Tide a season ago.