The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHRIS Ferguson and the No.21 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats are headed to a bowl game for the third time during his tenure with the programme which will also mark the final game of his collegiate career.

The Bearcats accepted a bid to the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl where they will face the Boston College Eagles, Thursday, January 2, 2020 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Kickoff is at 3pm and will be televised on ESPN.

Cincinnati finished the season at 10-3 and clinched the American Athletic Conference East Division title. They head into the postseason off a pair of losses to the Memphis Tigers - once in the regular season finale (34-24) and the following week in the AAC title game (29-24).

The Bearcats clinched a winning season with double-digit wins for the second consecutive year. Their losses also came against some of the top ranked teams in the nation, the aforementioned losses to Memphis and an early season loss to No.2 Ohio State.

Cincinnati finished the season ranked No. 21 (College Football Playoff), No. 22 (USA Today Coaches Poll) and No. 23 (Associated Press Poll) in the final regular-season polls. It was the first time since 2009 the Bearcats finished the regular season in the AP poll and first time since 2011 for a postseason coaches-poll rank. It was also the first time UC has been ranked in the final CFP rankings.

The Bearcats defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 35-31 in the PlayStation Military Bowl to conclude last season.

Ferguson and the Bearcats offensive line led sophomore running back Michael Warren III to 166 yards and two touchdowns en route to being named MVP.

Ferguson was able to return for his sixth season when he was granted an eligibility-extension waiver by the NCAA because of injuries suffered earlier in his career. He began the season four starts this season at both left and right tackle, but missed two games against UCF and Houston with an ankle injury. Since his return, he has played at several positions along the offensive line.