The Action Network Declares Cincinnati Second-Most Underrated Football Program Of CFP Era

The Bearcats are used to being written off, and flipping the script.

Oct 21, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; The Cincinnati Bearcats mascot is thrown between cheerleaders in the first quarter at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports / Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

CINCINNATI — The Action Network's Brett McMurphy broke down the most overrated and underrated teams of the CFP era (since 2014) and Cincinnati football checked in as the second-most underrated team ranking only behind Northwestern.

UC has done a nice job outpacing national expectations, culminating in the only Group of Five playoff birth of the four-team era during the 2021 season. 

"How were the most overrated and underrated teams determined?" McMurphy wrote. "Each season, teams would get positive or negative points for each position they finished above or below their preseason ranking in the final poll. Teams with the most positive points since 2014 were underrated; teams with the most negative points were overrated."

The fact Cincinnati was unranked in the AP Top 25 during a good chunk of these seasons helped their case. At the end of those seasons, they often ended up inside the final AP Top 25 poll.

Now, Scott Satterfield's team has a chance to outpace national expectations again by just making a bowl game, let alone finishing as a ranked team.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel on all things Bearcats athletics and Bearcat Blitz on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Bookmark Bearcats Talk for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more.

You may also like:

Cincinnati Football 2024 Game-By-Game Predictions Part One

Scott Satterfield Dives Into Starting QB Decision: 'Gives us a Great Situation'

PFF Ranks Brendan Sorsby Outside Top-50 Power Conference Quarterbacks

Look: Cincinnati Bearcats Football Team Announces 2024 Captains

Six Cincinnati Bearcats Named to 2025 Senior Bowl Watchlist

Recruiting Roundup: Cincinnati Welcoming Four-Star Talents For Fall Visits

Report: Travis Kelce to Appear in Two Hollywood Movies as Star Shines Brighter

Watch: Tyson Veidt, Corey Kiner, and Kam Wilson Speak After UC Football Practice

Watch: Former Bearcats Quarterback Emory Jones Throws NFL Preseason Touchdown

Xzavier Henderson Bought JUGS Machine to Improve Game This Offseason

Watch: Indoor Performance Center Construction Tour

Look: Multiple Outlets Name Cincinnati Guard Luke Kandra as Preseason All-American

Watch: Scott Satterfield And More Discuss Second 2024 Fall Camp Scrimmage

Look: Bearcats Quarterback Brendan Sorsby Named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watchlist

Takeaways From Cincinnati Football's First Fall Camp Scrimmage

Look: Former Cincinnati Volleyball Player Jordan Thompson Wins Silver at 2024 Paris Olympics

Watch: Highlights During Cincinnati Bearcats' Fall Camp Scrimmage

Watch: Scott Satterfield, Tyson Veidt, Joe Royer And Jared Bartlett Discuss Cincinnati's Fall Camp Scrimmage

Look: Cincinnati Bearcats Center Gavin Gerhardt Named to Rimington Trophy Watchlist

Brendan Sorsby Updates Comfortability With Cincinnati Playbook

Look: Cincinnati Bengals Tee Higgins Notices Funny Mistake on NFL Player Profile

-----

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

Follow All Bearcats on Twitter: @BearcatsTalk

Like All Bearcats on Facebook: All Bearcats