2018 Cincinnati Bearcats football team  The 2018 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats play their home games at Nippert Stadium, and are members of the East Division in the American Athletic Conference. They are led by second-year head coach Luke Fickell. In 2017, the Bearcats were led by first-year head coach Luke Fickell, who was hired to replace Tommy Tuberville. The Bearcats finished with a 4–8 (2–6 AAC) record, missing a bowl game for the second-straight season. The Bearcats signed a total of 23 recruits. Cincinnati added five transfers to the 2018 roster. Listed in the order that they were released The AAC media poll was released on July 24, 2018, with the Bearcats predicted to finish fourth in the AAC East Division. The Bearcats' 2018 schedule will consist of six home games and six away games. Cincinnati will host two of its four non-conference games; against Alabama A&M from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and Ohio from the Mid-American Conference. They will take on long time rival Miami (OH) for their annual Victory Bell game at Paul Brown Stadium. They will travel to UCLA for the first ever meeting between the Bearcats and Bruins. The Bearcats will play eight conference games; hosting East Carolina, Navy, South Florida and Tulane. They will travel to UCF, UConn, SMU, and Temple. Expected to be an easy warmup opponent in Chip Kelly's UCLA debut, the Bearcats were rude guests stunning the double digit favorite Bruins in the Rose Bowl. Michael Warren II rushed for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns, as the Bearcats rallied from an early 10-0 deficit to win. The Bearcats clinching touchdown came after the Bruins were called for a penalty during a Bearcats field goal attempt leading 19-17. Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell boldly gambled that the Bearcats could convert a 4th and 1 deep in Bruins territory and accepted the penalty, which took the field goal off the board. The Bearcats converted the 4th down and Warren scored a touchdown a few plays later to ice the game. Played in a steady downpour, the Bearcats ground out a 21-0 win over the Redhawks to retain possession of the Victory Bell for the 13th straight season. This was the Bearcats' first shutout since blanking the Redhawks in 2013. Utilizing a ground attack, the Bearcats were led by true freshman Desmond Ridder who had 117 yards rushing, and Michael Warren II with 94 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.