For the first time since 2006, Miami (OH) enters its rivalry game against visiting Cincinnati with the Victory Bell in their possession.
The Redhawks (0-1) will try to hold onto the prized trophy over consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003 when they won their third straight over the Bearcats (1-1).
The series is deadlocked, with each team holding 60 wins and seven ties heading into Saturday’s game at Oxford, Ohio.
The long, storied rivalry that dates to 1888 could end with the 2026 game, as both schools canceled all future games on campus, including 2025 at Cincinnati. The 2026 contest is scheduled for Paycor Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, and this week’s game is the final matchup scheduled for Miami’s campus.
Last year, the Redhawks rallied to tie the game at 24-all, then won 31-24 in overtime after ending regulation with a block on a 35-yard field goal attempt from Bearcats kicker Carter Brown. The win snapped Cincinnati’s 16-game win streak in the matchup.
This year, both teams enter the game off losses. Miami fell at Northwestern 13-6 on Aug. 31. Cincinnati opened with a 38-20 home win over Towson before blowing a 27-6 third-quarter lead and losing 28-27 to visiting Pitt last Saturday.
“Right after the game, there was so much positivity up there already, even after a hard loss like that,” Bearcats center Gavin Gerhardt said. “And I think myself and a lot of guys have taken pride in and not allowing what happened last year in our program, the poutiness and whatnot, to happen anymore.
“This is a big rivalry game for us. And I think a lot of us older guys and the guys that have been here and have played Miami before last season even are taking a lot of pride in bringing that Bell back to Cincinnati. So that’s a big game for us. We’re not worried about Houston (next Saturday) at all. We’re worried about Miami.”
Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, a transfer from Indiana, has thrown five touchdowns and run for two scores in the first two games.
“They’ve got a ton of new players, a ton of new transfers offensively. They rolled up (658) yards against Towson, and the quarterback they’ve got, he’s really athletic,” Miami head coach Chuck Martin said. “He’s got a rifle arm. This guy can throw it, make all the throws. They’ve got a lot of different ways to attack you in the run game and then throw the ball over your head defensively.”
