The University of Cincinnati football team has made history.
The 13-member College Football Playoff selection committee released its final Top 25 rankings of the season Sunday, and the Bearcats are No. 4.
Cincinnati (13-0), the only remaining undefeated team in the FBS, is the first team outside of the Power Five conferences to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014.
The two semifinal matchups will kick off on New Year's Eve. The Bearcats will play top-ranked Alabama (12-1), the Southeastern Conference champion, in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. No. 2 Michigan (12-1), the Big Ten champion, will face No. 3 Georgia, the SEC runner-up, in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Both games will be broadcast on ESPN. The times will be announced at a later date.
The winners of the two matchups will play for a national championship Jan. 10 in Indianapolis.
Cincinnati became the first team in program history to improve to 13-0 Saturday with a 35-20 win over then-No. 21 Houston in the American Athletic Conference championship game at Nippert Stadium. It was the Bearcats' third straight appearance in the AAC title game and second straight victory in it.
Recap:Cincinnati Bearcats win second straight AAC title
Analysis: Cincinnati's seniors take over in second half of 35-20 win in AAC title game
Senior quarterback Desmond Ridder threw for three touchdowns for Cincinnati and improved to 44-5 as a starter (26-0 at home). Junior running back Jerome Ford rushed for 187 yards and two scores on 18 carries and was named the game's Most Outstanding Player.
Cincinnati's defense had eight sacks in the win, including two by senior linebacker Joel Dublanko.
The Bearcats are now 22-1 over the last two seasons under head coach Luke Fickell. Their only loss was a 24-21 defeat to Georgia on a 53-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the 2020 Peach Bowl.
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