Bearcats Fall Slightly in Latest Way-Too-Early Top-25 CFB Rankings

Cincinnati opens the 2022 on September 3 at Arkansas.

© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

CINCINNATI — The Athletic's Stewart Mandel released his post-spring top-25 for college football, and Cincinnati just made the cut. Mandel has them slotted at No. 23—one spot lower than his initial way-too-early-top-25.

"It’s a lot of transition for Luke Fickell’s team after losing four-year QB Desmond Ridder and eight other NFL draft picks," Mandel wrote. "But Fickell got a big transfer pickup last month in LSU RB Corey Kiner, a Cincinnati native. He’ll help fill the void left by Jerome Ford. Ben Bryant and Evan Prater are still competing for the QB job. CBs Leroy Bowers and Arquon Bush looked good, an encouraging sign after losing stars Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant."

This is roughly where Bearcats fans should expect the initial AP poll to treat Cincinnati heading into unknown territory without the nine players they sent to teams in the NFL Draft.

The most noteworthy part of this exercise is Houston (No. 19) jumping four spots to eclipse the Bearcats. The two schools are the only AAC representatives on the list.

Make sure you bookmark All Bearcats for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more.

You May Also Like:

Kyle Washington, Tari Eason Named UC's Best Modern Incoming/Outgoing Transfers

Desmond Ridder: 'I'm Going to put my Best Foot Forward' in Atlanta Falcons QB Battle

Bearcats Crack ESPN's List of Top-10 Defenses Over Next Three Years

Bearcats Offer Top-Two 2024 Ohio Prospect

Alec Pierce Inks Contract With Indianapolis Colts

A Closer Look at New Bearcats Defensive End Noah Potter

Watch: Alec Pierce, Jerome Ford, Myjai Sanders Practicing at NFL Rookie Minicamps

The 2022 NFL Schedule: Bearcats Edition

Three-Star 2023 Target Locks Commitment Date; Wes Miller Offers Top-55 2024 Player

Bearcats Peppered Across NFL Rookie of the Year Betting Markets

Ahmad Gardner, Alec Pierce Make List of Top-10 Scheme Fits

Look: Ahmad Gardner Buys Permanent Jersey Number From Jets Teammate

Bearcats Move up in Latest ESPN Recruiting Rankings

Bearcats Offer Four-Star 2023 Center; Bring in 2024 Sharpshooter for a Visit

Watch: Ahmad Gardner Practices With Jets Rookies, Signs Rookie Contract

PFF Lists Coby Bryant as 'Instant-Impact Day Three Rookie'

Ahmad Gardner Signs Contract With New York Jets

Four-Star 2023 Point Guard Trey Green Places UC in Top-Seven Schools

Richard Sherman: Coby Bryant 'Will be a Long-Time Starter' for Seattle Seahawks

Desmond Ridder Named one of the 2022 NFL Draft's Biggest Steals

Five UC Football Players That Could be Drafted in 2023

Ahmad Gardner, Alec Pierce Projected as 'Biggest 2022 Impact Rookies'

Wes Miller: 'Crucial Offseason' Ahead for Jeremiah Davenport, Viktor Lakhin

Report: Outgoing AAC Schools 'Fully Confident' Settlement is Reached With AAC This Month

Three-Star 2023 Quarterback Brady Drogosh Commits to Cincinnati

Ahmad Gardner Headlines Record-Breaking New York Jets Draft Class

Major Analysts Name Desmond Ridder 'Steal of the 2022 NFL Draft'

UC Emerges as a Major Winner From the 2022 NFL Draft

Watch: Darrian Beavers Celebrates Being Picked by New York Giants

Desmond Ridder: Atlanta is 'Going to get a Super Bowl out of me'

Corey Kiner: 'Why Come Closer to Home When I Could Just Come Home?'

Takeaways From UC's 2022 Spring Game

Bearcats Q&A: A Ball-Handling Discussion With Mika Adams-Woods

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on All Bearcats all the time!

Follow All Bearcats on Twitter: @AllBearcats

Like All Bearcats on FaceBook: All Bearcats

Follow All Bearcats on Instagram: @BearcatsTalk