Cincinnati is off a great 2020 season finishing the year as the top group of 5 team in the nation with bigger aspirations heading into 2021. Reigning AAC Player of the Year Desmond Ridder passed on the NFL to come back to college in 2021. The Bearcats have all the potential in the world back by a team full of talent heading into this year.
The fate of the Cincinnati team is in the hands of QB Desmond Ridder who had a coming out party in 2020 setting the conference on fire in route to a great year. Ridder contributed over 2,800 all purpose yards and 31 touchdowns to the Bearcats offense and as the main focus of the Cincinnati offense in 2021 those numbers could increase easily.
Ridder will be surrounded by a host of weapons led by seniors Michael Young Jr. and Alec Jones in the receiver spots. Jerome Ford will get the majority of the carries at running back and with all eyes on Ridder could become an X factor in the Cincinnati offense.
The Cincinnati offense is loaded but the defense will be the motor of this team. The Bearcats finished with the 13th best defense in the nation in 2020 and with a lot of main pieces returning with the addition of a key transfer up front the Bearcats could have a top 5 defense in 2021.
Cincinnati is loaded from top to bottom on both sides of the ball and the sky is the limit. The Bearcats have College Football Playoff hopes and their defense will be stout enough to get them there. The outcome of this year is solely in the hands of Ridder and if he performs as good or better then last year this Bearcats team could be the biggest surprise in the nation this year.
