Did Cincinnati belong in the College Football Playoff? Fans, media weigh in
There was some debate leading up to the College Football Playoff about Cincinnati being deserving of a shot at the national championship. Many college football media and even coaches like Nick Saban of Alabama supported the cause. Saban often referred to his time as a player at Kent State, and the fact that Cincinnati was undefeated.
Even though the Bearcats trailed 17-3 at halftime, and struggled to stop Alabama’s punishing rushing attack, most fans and media who watched the Cotton Bowl agreed that Cincinnati belonged in the game.
Some even argued that Cincinnati’s defense and special teams belonged, but the offense struggled to make a dent against Alabama, which held on for a 27-6 victory.
Here’s a sampling of fan and media reaction:
I thought @GoBearcatsFB would take this to the 4th quarter and they did that against the #1 team in the country
Had their shot on 4th down to make it interesting late.
They belonged in this playoff and have fared far better than some other P5 schools
— Bobby Carpenter (@Bcarp3) December 31, 2021
Like I said before, Alabama is a great team. Cincinnati is a great story. They did something no other G5 school has ever done (making the playoffs.) glad we got to see a G5 team make the #CFBPlayoff
— Sideline CFB (@SidelineCFB) December 31, 2021
Cincinnati still belonged
It got smoked
But it still belonged
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) December 31, 2021
Goodnight Cincinnati.
Yes. The Bearcats belonged in #CFPlayoff and as we have all found out over the years….so does ‘Bama.
— Frank Sulkowski WJCL (@TheBigGuyWJCL) December 31, 2021
Ok. I’ll admit. Cincinnati belonged.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) December 31, 2021
We now know Cincinnati belonged because it did what the rest of the contenders have done: lose to Alabama.
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) December 31, 2021
Other teams have been beaten much, much worse by Bama in the semis than Cincinnati. Washington, Michigan State, etc.
The Bearcats belonged, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
— Patrick Felts (@patrickjfelts) December 31, 2021
The main thing everyone should take away from this game is that Cincinnati absolutely belonged here, and G5 teams deserve an expanded playoff.
— Indiana Jones’ Burner (@geniusman16) December 31, 2021
Cincinnati absolutely belonged in this semi-final and bigger schools have been crockpotted in the same way by Alabama every year; there’s no shame in this.
— Colin Durant (@CGDurant) December 31, 2021
Honestly, did anyone think Cincinnati belonged in this game?
— Jaden (@PresidentJrK) December 31, 2021
There’s no doubt Cincinnati belonged, Bama is just that much better.
— Anthony Joki (@AnthonyJoki) December 31, 2021
Cincinnati, you never belonged here. Sorry 🤷🏻♂️ #RollTide
— Benjamin Reece Hazel (@benjidude11) December 31, 2021
Cincinnati’s defense and special teams have played like they belonged on this stage. Unfortunately, Alabama completely neutralized their offense.
— Alan (@MasonFanatic) December 31, 2021
