No.21 Cincinnati Football will take on Tulsa Football this weekend. Win or lose, this will be quite an interesting weekend for the program. For a reason beyond having their 2009 team honored.

That reason being Cincinnati Football’s status as the best show in town sports-wise. Being nationally ranked is first among the reasons why this is so. The Cincinnati Bearcats improved from 25th to 21st in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. Along with this, the Bearcats are also keeping their conference title prospects alive. Winning their first two conference games; starting with previously ranked UCF Football.

Next, the Bearcats are effectively picking up from where they were last year. Cincinnati’s lone loss of this season came against Ohio State Football. A College Football Playoff contender that few expected the Bearcats to beat. Conference-wise, the Bearcats win against UCF marks an improvement. Since UCF and Temple Football were the teams that stood in Cincinnati’s way last year.

This success comes in contrast to the way the Cincinnati Bengals season is going. The Bearcats closest in-season major competitor for attention. While the Bearcats are doing well, the Bengals are stumbling after six games. The Bengals are struggling mostly with same issues they struggled with last season. Struggling throughout their season so far with a sluggish offense and defense. They’re currently winless and seemingly en-route towards another under .500 season. Instead of looking new and improved under new head coach Zac Taylor.

Besides the Bengals, many local teams that could rival the Bearcats for attention are currently in their off-season’s. This includes professional sports’ Cincinnati Reds and FC Cincinnati. With the lone exception being minor league hockey’s Cincinnati Cyclones. Their season began last Saturday with a 4-2 win over the Wheeling Nailers. Cyclones aside, Cincinnati and Xavier Basketball’s regular seasons are still weeks away.

The Bearcats have an opportunity to turn heads in Cincinnati and beyond. Especially as the college football season enters the second half. Cincinnati has the potential to make a good case for a New Year’s Six bowl. Especially if American Athletic Conference foes Memphis, Temple and SMU Football stumble. All setting the stage for a potentially interesting second half for the Bearcats.