ATLANTA (AP) — Luke Fickell knew he might surprise some by suggesting No. 11 Georgia is the best team Cincinnati has faced in his four seasons as head coach.
After all, then-No. 5 Ohio State crushed the Bearcats 42-0 early in the 2019 season.
Cincinnati has another opportunity against what he refers to as one of college football’s “blue bloods” when the No. 6 Bearcats try to complete an undefeated season against Georgia in Friday’s Peach Bowl.
Cincinnati (9-0, No. 8 CFP) is undefeated but is a one-touchdown underdog against Georgia (7-2, No. 9 CFP).
“I think this is the best football team we’ve played since I’ve been at Cincinnati,” Fickell said Thursday.
Fickell wanted Cincinnati to be considered for a spot in this year’s College Football Playoff. He knows beating Georgia could help the Bearcats earn respect in future playoff debates.
“It’s a great way for us to measure ourselves as individuals, really to measure us as a program to see where we are, where we’ve come, how we match up against some of the very best,” Fickell said Thursday. “We’re excited.”
Fickell used the Ohio State comparison more than once this week, perhaps hoping to motivate players who remember the lopsided loss.
“We had an opportunity last year to measure ourselves against some of the very best and didn’t do as well,” he said. “Hopefully we learned as coaches and players there’s some things you got to do a lot better when you’re playing against the best.”
Georgia coach Kirby Smart has endured a stressful December due to rising COVID-19 results around the campus.
Smart and Fickell would not say if any players would be held out due to positive tests.
“The important thing is the health and safety of our players,” Smart said. “The protocols we have in place are there not to only protect our players but Cincinnati’s players.”
The Bulldogs are 3-0 and have enjoyed an offensive surge since naming JT Daniels the starting quarterback. Georgia averaged 41.7 points and almost 500 yards in the three wins as Daniels passed for nine touchdowns with one interception.
Cincinnati is led by dual-threat quarterbackDesmond Ridder, who has a combined 29 touchdowns, including 17 passing.
RED AND BLACK
Georgia will wear black jerseys, because each team couldn’t wear red. “Those kids like wearing those,” said Smart of the black jerseys, before adding that the request came from Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan.
“I just think the field looks great when you have both teams wearing colored uniforms,” Stokan said Thursday. “Looks great on TV and on the field.”
After Smart said the black jerseys were Stokan’s choice, Stokan said Smart was “too kind to me, giving me way too much credit.” Stokan said Fickell and Smart “made their decisions on their uniforms.”
Said Smart: “I guess I should say it was brought to me in a light that it was encouraged to be colored.”
LOOKING FOR NEW YEAR’S WIN
The Bearcats are playing for a New Year’s Day bowl win after losses to Virginia Tech and Florida in the 2009 Orange Bowl and 2008 Sugar Bowl, respectively. The Bearcats’ only New Year’s Day bowl win came against Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl on Jan. 1, 1947.
Safety Darrick Forrest said, “I feel like everyone wants to make the best of this opportunity. ... For sure we need to go out there and get this for our program, for our city, just for everybody.”
OPTING OUT
Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes, linebacker Monty Rice, offensive guard Ben Cleveland and tight end Tre McKitty opted out of the game. Stokes and Cleveland have said they will enter the NFL draft.
Georgia’s defense could be bolstered if safety Richard LeCounte and tackle Jordan Davis return from injuries.
COOK LOSES FATHER
Running back James Cook, the Bulldogs’ second-leading rusher and fourth-leading receiver, will miss the game following his father’s death this week.
“Your heart goes out for him,” Smart said. “... This is a time for him to be with his family.”
Cook’s older brother, Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, will miss Sunday’s game against Detroit.
BEARCATS CULTURE
Cincinnati has had no players announce they will miss the game.
“It really just shows our true culture as a team, how we can stay together as a team, what we’ve worked for,” Ridder said. “We know we want to achieve one goal. We’re going to need everyone to do that. Everyone staying together, be on one team.”
