Sporting News Names Luke Fickell Fifth-Best Coach in College Football

The Bearcats' program is getting plenty of praise this week.

© Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

CINCINNATI — After winning the Sporting News 2021 Coach of the Year Award, Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell kept that momentum rolling by checking in at No. 5 on their preseason FBS coach rankings.

Fickell was 13th in last year's exercise, but Bill Bender has seen more than enough to put Fickell in the top five.

"Fickell, who won SN Coach of the Year honors in 2021," Bender wrote. "Is 33-5 the last three seasons for the fourth-best winning percentage among FBS coaches. He led Cincinnati to the Group of 5's first appearance in the College Football Playoff, and the Bearcats sent a school-record nine NFL players to the NFL Draft. Fickell has done all that in the shadow of his alma mater, and he will be the coach that leads Cincinnati on to a larger stage in the Big 12."

Speaking of his alma mater, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day checked in just ahead of Fickell at No. 4, while Kirby Smart, Dabo Swinney, and Nick Saban rounded out the top spots in that order.

Fickell has essentially turned Cincinnati into a national presence overnight in college football terms. Taking a team from 4-8 five years ago, to the heights they just reached is unheard of in this sport and he's getting the proper recognition ahead of the 2022 season. Oh, and he's completely transformed UC's presence on the recruiting trail as well.

They are on pace to shatter their best 247Sports team ranking by 16 or more spots in 2023, moving from No. 41 too somewhere between No. 25 and No. 20 when everyone is signed.

The Fickell Effect is a whirlwind, and it's just getting started.

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

You May Also Like:

Bob Huggins on UC Joining Big 12: 'They Better get Ready Because it is Hard'

Three-Star 2023 Defensive Lineman Kamari Burns Commits to UC; Class of 2023 now Highest-Rated in School History

Watch: Coby Bryant Flashes Athleticism at Seattle Seahawks Practice

UC Football Adds Sixth 2023 Commitment of the Weekend

Four-Star Wide Receiver Ayden Greene Commits to UC

Three-Star 2023 Legacy Cornerback Luke Evans Commits to Cincinnati

UC Football Secures Commitment From Three-Star Cornerback Jonas Duclona

Four-Star Safety Daeh McCullough Commits to UC

Desmond Ridder Making Early Waves With Atlanta Falcons

Three-Star 2023 Forward Arrinten Page Visits UC

Bearcats QB Room Ranked in Middle of ESPN's FBS Passer Tiers

Watch: Myjai Sanders Mic'd up at Arizona Cardinals' OTAs

Bearcats Offer Four-Star 2023 Wing Mayar Wol

Marcus Mariota: 'Absolutely' Mentoring Desmond Ridder

UC Football Falls in Latest ESPN Recruiting Rankings

Rayvon Griffith Transferring to AZ Compass for Senior High School Season

UC Announces Kickoff Times for Four 2022 Football Games

Bearcats Offer 2023 Four-Star Guard Jizzle James

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

A Closer Look at New Bearcats Defensive End Noah Potter

The 2022 NFL Schedule: Bearcats Edition

Bearcats Peppered Across NFL Rookie of the Year Betting Markets

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

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

Five UC Football Players That Could be Drafted in 2023

UC Emerges as a Major Winner From the 2022 NFL Draft

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