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State of the AAC: Cincinnati dethrones UCF in 27-24 victory

While the UCF Knights dropped from the AP Poll for the first time since midway through the 2017 season, the Cincinnati Bearcats, who beat the American Athletic Conference rival Knights on Friday night, became the latest AAC team to ascend into the poll at No. 25.

For the first time since week eight of last season, three AAC teams are ranked, as Cincinnati (4-1, 1-0) and No. 23 Memphis (5-0, 1-0) joined No. 21 SMU (6-0, 2-0) in the week seven poll.

Cincinnati toppled the two-time defending AAC Champions via some hard-fought defense. Although the Knights out-gained the Bearcats in yardage with 423 to the hosts’ 341, Cincinnati forced four UCF turnovers, including three interceptions from highly efficient freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel.