It's all laid out for the University of Cincinnati football team.
Cincinnati, which on Tuesday moved up a spot to No. 24 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings will host Tulane on Friday (noon on ABC). If the two-time defending American Athletic Conference champion Bearcats win, they will host the AAC championship game at Nippert Stadium for the third straight year.
If Cincinnati (9-2, 6-1) loses and UCF (8-3, 5-2) wins at South Florida Saturday night, the Bearcats are out, and UCF and Tulane (9-2, 6-1) will play for the conference crown on Dec. 3 in New Orleans.
The streak:A lot at stake for Cincinnati Bearcats in 2022 finale
"Obviously, this week is huge," Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said. "It's for everything and for all the marbles. This is the start of the championship. This is what we prepare for. This is what we envision. This is the one goal – that we don't talk about – that we have when we start camp. And it's senior day."
There are several other scenarios surrounding who will play for the AAC title next week. But the bottom line for the Bearcats is if they win, they're in. That's all that matters to sixth-year graduate defensive lineman Jabari Taylor, who could play his final game at Nippert on Friday.
"This is the last ride, baby," he said.
Our first look at the Tulane Green Wave
RECORD: Like the Bearcats, Tulane is 9-2 overall this season with a 6-1 mark in AAC play. Also like Cincinnati, the Green Wave's lone loss in conference came against UCF. Tulane lost 38-31 to the Knights on Nov. 12 at home. Cincinnati lost 25-21 at UCF two weeks prior.
The Green Wave's other loss came Sept. 24 at Southern Mississippi. Tulane fell at home to the Golden Eagles, 27-24.
RANKING: Tulane is No. 19 in the latest CFP rankings. It's the highest position of any Group of Five team (UCF is No. 22). The Green Wave also checked in at No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 20 USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches polls.
HEAD COACH: Willie Fritz is enjoying his seventh and best season at Tulane. Fritz has already won more games this year than the 2020 (two) and 2021 (six) seasons combined.
Fritz's previous single-season-high win total at the helm of the Green Wave program was seven. He won seven games in each of the 2018 and 2019 campaigns and led Tulane to bowl victories each year.
The 62-year-old Shawnee Mission, Kansas, native took over at Tulane following back-to-back nine-win seasons at Georgia Southern (2014-15).
KEY PLAYERS: Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday following a six-touchdown performance in a 59-24 win Nov. 17 against Southern Methodist. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior threw for 141 yards and three scores on 9-of-14 passing and added 70 rushing yards and three more touchdowns on 10 carries.
Pratt ranks second in the AAC in pass efficiency (157.29) and has thrown four interceptions this season, the fewest of any starting quarterback in the conference. Pratt was injured and did not play in last season's meeting against the Bearcats in New Orleans.
Running back Tyjae Spears was healthy and ran all over Cincinnati a season ago. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior racked up 106 yards on 19 carries and had a 47-yard touchdown run. Spears has 996 yards on 115 carries and 14 total touchdowns (12 rushing and two receiving) this season.
Tulane has the No. 1 defense in the AAC, surrendering just 19.5 points per game. Senior linebacker Dorian Williams leads the Green Wave with 93 tackles (60 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
SERIES HISTORY: Cincinnati is 7-11 all time against Tulane, including wins in each of the last four meetings (all under Fickell). The Bearcats defeated the Green Wave 31-12 last season in New Orleans. UC led 14-12 at halftime. Cincinnati is 3-4 all time against the Green Wave at Nippert Stadium.
FUN FACT: Fickell is currently tied with Brian Kelly for the most 10-win seasons in program history (three). A win Friday would break that tie.
3 keys to victory for the Bearcats vs. Tulane
1. Sharp quarterback play: Senior quarterback Ben Bryant left last week's win at Temple in the second quarter and did not return. He watched the second half from the sideline while on crutches and sporting a walking boot on his right foot. Senior tight end and team captain Josh Whyle said Bryant is "day-to-day" and will be a "game-time decision." Whether it's Bryant or sophomore backup Evan Prater who starts Friday, the Bearcats will need good decision-making and efficient play from the quarterback position.
"We're good with both," said Whyle, who caught two touchdowns from then-starting quarterback Desmond Ridder in last season's win at Tulane. "It doesn't change the game plan. Obviously, they're different style of quarterbacks – dual threat versus pro style – but it doesn't change the scheme, it doesn't change the way we practice. We trust them, we believe in both of them. Either one can get the job done on Friday."
2. Continue to make kicks: Cincinnati was just a two-point favorite over the Green Wave as of Wednesday afternoon. That means oddsmakers think Friday will be close. That means the Bearcats will need kicker Ryan Coe. The junior Delaware transfer was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week after scoring 11 points (3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and two PATs) in last week's 23-3 win at Temple. Coe was good from 28, 38 and 24 yards, extending his streak to nine straight successful field-goal tries and becoming the most accurate kicker in program history at 81.8% (minimum 20 attempts). Coe has hit 18 of 22 field goals this season.
3. Stop the run: Spears is dangerous. He has 12 career games with at least 100 yards rushing, including 100-plus yards in each of his last five outings. Taylor, senior linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., who on Tuesday was named a finalist for the Butkus Award (college football's top linebacker), and the rest of the Cincinnati defense can't allow Spears to control the game and control the clock.
"We've got to respect him, and we've got to stop the run," Taylor said. "It's as simple as that."
Prediction
Friday will be the biggest game for the UC football program since last season's College Football Playoff semifinal. An opportunity for Cincinnati to play for a championship will be at stake. Playing for a championship is always the goal for Fickell's teams at the beginning of the season. With that in mind, the added emotions of senior day, and the pressure of extending the program-record 32-game home winning streak, the Bearcats will answer the bell and find a way to topple Tulane and bring the AAC championship game back to Nippert Stadium. UC wins, 27-24.
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