Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell discusses the Bearcats' 24-14 win against UCLA Thursday in the season-opener. Fletcher Page, fpage@enquirer..com
AAC commissioner Mike Aresco made trips to Cincinnati and Memphis this weekend during what he estimated was the best opening run of football games for his league to date.
There were name-brand matchups — Bearcats-UCLA, Tigers-Ole Miss, Houston-Oklahoma among them — and ABC/ESPN broadcasts provided a national stage.
And of course it helps the conference that Aresco watched UC and Memphis win.
"Vital for us," said Aresco before kickoff Thursday at Nippert Stadium.