The battle for the Victory Bell is the oldest non-conference rivalry in college football dating back to 1888. The 2021 edition of the rivalry between the crosstown Ohio schools features higher stakes than most of the previous matchups.
For one, the series record is on the line. The Miami RedHawks have lost 14 consecutive games, but the Cincinnati Bearcats can tie the all-time series at 59-59-7 with a victory. Also, Cincinnati has its highest preseason ranking ever attached to its name. The Bearcats checked into the initial AP Poll at No. 8, so a convincing win over the RedHawks will be required for the reigning AAC champs to maintain the lofty standing.