The University of Cincinnati will be transitioning to online learning for the first two weeks of its spring semester due to the high transmissibility of the omicron variant in Greater Cincinnati.University officials announced Tuesday that UC will move to remote operations beginning on Wednesday and will continue online operations until Jan. 24, when they will pivot back to full in-person activities. Students will engage in online learning when their classes begin on Jan. 10. "I'm not surprised, but it's not the best thing in the world. I'm used to it at this point because my freshman year was completely online," said UC student Mikaela Armstrong.UC leaders said the decision was made in order to "minimize the disruption" the omicron variant could cause, including quarantining and classroom absences. Therefore, classes and academic support services will be held online for the first two weeks of the semester."The goal of this in-person delay is for us to assess the impact of omicron on our populations; let the spike in transmissions run its course; implement additional measures for screening testing and vaccination; and assess the feasibility of providing faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to receive booster shots," UC officials wrote in a release Tuesday.UC leaders said they wanted to ensure that students and staff come back to a healthy and safe environment."I am concerned about how much it's (COVID) spreading more. Especially in our community, we didn't see it that much especially on campus as students last year, but kinda looking forward to do that little bit of online to make sure it passes a little before we jump right back in," said UC student Aidan Guessford.Certain in-person activities that are allowed for learning purposes during this time include clinical, lab, studio and performance activities just as students and staff practice social distancing and proper health measures.UC said students can return to campus residence halls as scheduled but those volunteering to return must participate in required COVID-19 testing, regardless of vaccination status. Officials said they're updating guidance on COVID-19 testing requirements on its public health website in the coming days. The university is asking that other in-person campus activities such as welcome back events either be canceled, minimized or moved to a remote format.Schools officials are strongly encouraging students, staff and faculty members to get their COVID-19 booster shot as soon as possible.This move comes the same day that Northern Kentucky University announced it is delaying the start of its spring semester due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.Due to the surge, NKU will delay classes for one week. All classes will start on Tuesday, Jan. 18.Ohio reported more than 37,000 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend. There were 37,626 cases reported from New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

"I'm going to the bowl game!" exclaimed Kevin Tatum at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Thursday."I got two boys at home, the grandparents are watching them. So go UC! Hopefully, my boys will cheer for them on Friday. And all I'm doing is waiting for my wife, so we can go through to the game," Tatum said."We have high hopes," said Monica Wenstrup, wife of Congressman Brad Wenstrup, who we saw at the airport on their way to the game. Brad Wenstrup has been a long-time UC fan."I've been a season ticket holder since the late 80s," said Brad Wenstrup.For him and his wife, Monica, it's been a thrilling season."We knew every game had to be won. So you just stayed on the edge of your seat all season long," said Brad Wenstrup.Friday's bowl game is no different."We're the underdog. That's not a bad position to be in. We've got high hopes because this team has outperformed every time they've had to," Brad Wenstrup said.Tatum said he and his wife, Molly, knew they'd be packing their bags once the game was announced."I was immediately searching for tickets, searching for flights. And I cannot wait," Tatum said. "I'm a huge UC fan. My wife graduated from there. I'm married into the UC family and I cannot be more excited for the team and the community."UC students Ryan Sawyer and Claudia Wright said they're ecstatic Cincinnati's being put on a pedestal."Cincinnati, Ohio. No one thinks of Ohio whenever they think of football. So I think this is going to be cool especially with Ohio State and stuff. It's awesome that Cincinnati is getting some recognition," Wright said.As for game predictions? "UC by four," Tatum said."UC's gonna win. I think so," Wright said."UC's gonna win. What kind of question is that?! Come on!" Sawyer said.And, of course, the politically correct prediction: "We got a great team with a lot of talents. And obviously Alabama does too. So I don't want to make any predictions," said Brad Wenstrup.I guess we will all have to watch and see.

Every year, Mike Wilson decks out his home in Harrison, Ohio, for the Christmas season. But things on Abigail Court in the Parks of WhiteWater neighborhood look a bit different in 2021, as the University of Cincinnati Bearcats prepare for their biggest game in program history against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. What is usually an array of Christmas colors is now a sea of red and black, as the Wilsons cheer on the Bearcats from afar. For the Wilsons, the light displays are a labor of love. "Sometimes I get frustrated with the amount of time it takes leading up to Thanksgiving when I'm trying to get everything done and he's working on the lights forever," Sarah Wilson said of her husband. "But it makes it all worth it in the end."Sarah Wilson said he's slightly obsessed. But this year, he scored a touchdown, and he's the talk of Bearcat Nation. "This year, they made history," said Mike Wilson, who describes himself as one of Cincinnati's biggest fans. "They're actually in the College Football Playoff — the first time ever Group of Five team — so why not celebrate as much as we can?"Like so many in Cincinnati, Mike Wilson has waited for this moment his whole life. "Finally, something is going right for Cincinnati fans. We're there. I don't want to say we made it because we expect more, but man we're there," he said.Mike Wilson said he decided to add a little Bearcat flair to the annual light show in 2021. His wife — who normally cheers for that other team — didn't know what to expect. "When he first told me, I kind of blew it off a little bit," Sarah Wilson said. "But then once he posted it and I saw it I was like, 'OK, that's actually really cool.'"When asked if his neighbors think the display is just slightly obnoxious, Mike Wilson laughed. "Well that wouldn't be me if I wasn't," he said. Now, his entire street is filled with Bearcat believers. The only thing they need now is a little red and black magic in Dallas. "I think there's a chance. I don't see why they can't shock the world and beat 'em," he said.

Cincinnati is energized around the UC Bearcats as they count the days to the Cotton Bowl in Texas.It's now just about nine days away.On Tuesday, there was an incredible show of support for the football team with a drone show and fireworks at Nippert Stadium.The excitement is also keeping businesses around campus booming.Fans chanted, clapped and rooted for the football Bearcats during the show.It was a phenomenal display in the sky that seemed to send a bit of a warning to Alabama: this team and its fans mean business."We have just been non-stop busy. Extended store hours. Tons of online orders," DuBois Book Store Operations Manager, Ty Bonawitz, said.Counting down the days to the Cotton Bowl and fans are getting geared up for the Bearcats at DuBois Book Store.Bonawitz said as soon as they put out new stuff, it's gone, and they have to restock again."The biggest problem we're having right now is the cotton shortage that we're dealing which is kind of ironic going to the Cotton Bowl," Bonawitz said.Even the dogs are rooting on these cats — well, the book store owner's dog — who wanders around as shoppers pick their next piece of gear.People said they're making a mad dash to get ready for Texas."Roll tide cool, but no, they ain't cool for us. We've got to beat them. We've got to beat them," fan, Jason Stewart, said.Fans have a hearty appetite to see undefeated UC conquer in this historic appearance in the College Football Playoffs.Over at Mio's, Rich Owens knows the team does, too.They fed them on Monday."We had a whiteboard that we had every player on the team sign and then we're going to laminate it. We haven't titled it yet. We're hoping to put national champs on it," Owens said.It's a moment in Bearcat history that will stick with the kids.As the sun went down on Tuesday, there was a bit of an incognito pep rally to "Light Up Nippert Stadium."There were fireworks and there was also a drone show with messages to root on the team."The programming that went into it and the messages up in the sky. They were really neat," fan, Kerri Todd, said.Of course, there were also the signature UC chants to let Alabama know UC means business."I was excited. I was actually up there and he can vouch for me, I was jumping up and down. I was like, 'Oh my God, I can't wait,'" UC employee, Alex Coleman, said.Fans said some people are driving to Texas and booking houses a couple of hours away so that they can still get close.Even still, businesses believe turnout locally will be good.According to officials, more than 150 synchronized drones were used in the show.They also said a video shot at the event will be featured at some point during the Cotton Bowl.

Bearcats fans are energized and ready to watch the team take on Alabama in Texas.It's a historic moment and fans said they've been waiting a long time.They said they are excited looking ahead to the Cotton Bowl.It's history in the making."We are going to cheer them on as hard as we can and it's so exciting," UC senior, Shannon Williams, said.UC students are fired up."I couldn't be more excited. It's been electric on campus and I'm ready to go to Dallas and see what we can do," UC senior, Nick Meinert, said.So are UC parents."Amazing. I'm so excited. I can't wait to see what they do. Go Bearcats," Debbie Conley said.They're all thrilled to seat the Bearcats not only undefeated, not only the AAC champs but number four in the College Football Playoff rankings.The team is set to take on Alabama in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Eve.On Sunday, as the announcement echoed over the speakers in bars, people were elated with Bearcat pride.We even found former UC football Bearcat Jordan Roth beaming in the moment."We had the stars line up for us and not to mention, we took care of business with everybody giving us their best every single week and we're the last ones standing and the only undefeated football team in the country," he said.He's excited to see the showdown against Alabama in Texas and he knows this team is ready."Defense. They're going to have to go out. They're going to have to execute just like any time else out there, but I think our corners are the best in the game. I think our pass defense is going to be fantastic. I just think that hard edge style of play, man, we're going to bring it," Roth said.Fans were rowdy in the best way supporting the Bearcats and a fantastic win on Saturday night.Many people said they're already making travel plans to get to Dallas and do it all over again later this month for the hometown team.

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Now that Sunday's announcement of the UC Bearcats making the College Football Playoffs, the NCAA also announced matchups for this year's college football bowl season.The Tri-States of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana have plenty of action throughout the coming weeks, so here are the notable games:Friday, Dec. 17: The University of Toledo Rockets will battle Middle Tennessee at noon on ESPN.Saturday, Dec. 18:Western Kentucky will battle Appalachian State in the Boca Raton Bowl at 11 a.m. on ESPN.Thursday, Dec. 23:The Miami RedHawks will battle North Texas in the Frisco Football Classic at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. The time and stream is TBD.Saturday, Dec. 25:Ball State University will battle Georgia State in the Camellia Bowl at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.Thursday, Dec. 28:The University of Louisville will battle the United States Air Force Academy in the First Responder Bowl at 3:15 p.m. on ESPN.Thursday, Dec. 30:Purdue will battle Tennessee in the Music City Bowl at 3 p.m. on ESPN.Friday, Dec. 31:The College Football Playoff kicks off with the Cotton Bowl and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats battling against the Alabama Crimson Tide for the chance for a trip to the National Championship Game. This game starts at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.The second game of the College Football Playoff will be the Orange Bowl between the University of Michigan and University of Georgia. this game starts at 7:30 p.m. and will also be on ESPN,Saturday, Jan. 1:The University of Kentucky Wildcats and the Iowa Hawkeyes will battle in the Citrus Bowl at 1 p.m. on ABC.The University of Notre Dame and new head coach Marcus Freeman will battle the Cowboys of Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl at 1 p.m. on ESPN.The Ohio State University Buckeyes will battle Utah in the "granddaddy of them all," the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m.Monday, Jan. 10:The College Football Playoff National Championship Game will be at 8 p.m. on ESPN at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.