Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell is well aware of his in-state audience, especially when it comes to the Bearcats being among the top 10 teams in America.

The former Ohio State assistant, in a press conference with reporters, said that Georgia was not only the best team Cincinnati has played this season, but the best since he’s been at Cincinnati as the coach is now in his fourth season with the Bearcats.

“I know I might make some people made with that,” Fickell said, knowing full well of Ohio State’s 42-0 win over Cincinnati in the second game of the 2019 season.

Fickell no doubt is aware that Georgia has had several players opt out of the Peach Bowl, which is set for noon on Friday, and coach Kirby Smart has mentioned that he’s concerned about COVID-19-related issues within his team.

When the matchup was first announced, Fickell said the bowl game is a chance for the Bearcats to show they deserve the same respect given to such Power 5 teams as Georgia in future playoff deliberations. Cincinnati was among the contending teams left out of the College Football Playoff even though it had a 9-0 record and won the American Athletic Conference title.