This will be the second bowl game for University of Cincinnati senior Kahlil Lewis and he hopes it will go better than the first. As a freshman in 2015, Lewis had one kickoff return for 26 yards in UC's lopsided loss at the Hawai'i Bowl 42-7 to San Diego State.
In his first year under then-coach Tommy Tuberville, Lewis had three receptions for 53 yards and returned kicks. The Bearcats ended the season lethargically and 2016 wasn't much better at 4-8, although Lewis was voted Most Valuable Reciever with 48 catches for 605 yards and five scores. He also had a memorable 79-yard touchdown run on a sweep at Purdue.