"We're preparing for this game as we do any other game. We know it's a big game that we've got on Saturday against a great opponent. We're just preparing like we would any game and just knowing that our attention to detail just has to be that much better."
Saturday will be Houston coach Dana Holgorsen's final shot at defeating Ridder. Ridder is 2-0 as a starter against Holgorsen's Cougars, throwing for 263 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-23 win against them in 2019 and running for three scores and throwing another in a 38-10 victory over Houston at Nippert last season.
"What's he won, 43 games? Is that where we're at now? 43? I'd say that's a heck of a career," Holgorsen said of Ridder.
With a victory Saturday, Ridder would improve to 44-5 as a starter.
In order to keep the Cougars out of Ridder's back pocket, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will need to get running back Jerome Ford going early.
After missing a game and a half with an ankle injury, Ford appears to be back to full strength, averaging 84 yards and a score on 20 carries over the last two games.
More: Travis Kelce wants undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats in the College Football Playoff
2. Avoid Marcus Jones: Houston may have the most dangerous return specialist in the nation. Marcus Jones, a 5-foot-8, 185-pound senior, has been named a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, presented annually to the most versatile player in college football.
Jones' nine career return touchdowns (six kickoff and three punt) are tied for the most in NCAA history. Jones leads the nation in punt return touchdowns (two) and is second in kick return touchdowns (two). The Troy transfer ranks fourth in the nation in punt return average (14.4) and fourth in combined kick return yards (778).
Jones had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown with 17 seconds left to lift Houston to a 44-37 win over then-No. 19/16 (Associated Press /Coaches polls) Southern Methodist on Oct. 30. It was the Cougars' only matchup against a ranked opponent this season.
3. Protect the kicker: The kicking game has been a real issue for Cincinnati this season. Cole Smith, the hero of last season's AAC championship game , lost the starting job earlier this season. His replacement, Alex Bales, has since had his own struggles. It won't get any easier for the UC kickers against the Cougars.
Houston leads the nation in blocked kicks (six) and blocked punts (four). Cougars 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive lineman Logan Hall blocked a field goal last week at Connecticut.
How to watch
Time: 4 p.m. on Saturday
Where: Nippert Stadium
TV: Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Katie George (sideline) will have the call on ABC.
Radio: Dan Hoard (play-by-play), Jim Kelly Jr. (analyst) and Mo Egger (host/engineer) will have the UC radio network call on WLW-AM (700), Sirius 83, XM 83 and Sirius App 83.
Live stream: ESPN+
Betting line: UC was a 10.5-point favorite 24 hours before kickoff.
Series history: Houston leads 15-12. Cincinnati leads 7-5 at Nippert Stadium, including 38-10 win against the Cougars last season.
Prediction
The Bearcats need some help to ensure they're one of the four teams in this season's College Football Playoff (mostly a win by top-ranked Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game). But one thing they can't do Saturday is lose. Everything is there for the taking for Cincinnati, including the first 13-0 season in program history.
There's no way Ridder, Alec Pierce, Coby Bryant, Darrian Beavers and the rest of the most successful senior class at Cincinnati are going to fumble their shot at a second straight AAC championship at home. UC wins, 34-21.
