College Team Guide
Cincinnati Bearcats: History, National Titles & Facts
The University of Cincinnati won back-to-back NCAA basketball titles in 1961 and 1962 and reached five straight Final Fours from 1959 to 1963. In football, the Bearcats were the first Group of Five team to reach the College Football Playoff, in the 2021 season.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Football first season | 1885 |
|---|---|
| Football stadium | Nippert Stadium; site used for football since 1901, permanent structure built 1915–1924 |
| Basketball national titles | 2 (1961, 1962) |
| Final Fours | 6 through 2026 (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1992) |
| Conference | Joined the Big 12 in 2023 |
| Colors | Red and black |
National championships
Cincinnati's two national titles came in men's basketball, both over Ohio State. The football program has not claimed a national title; its best finish came in the 2021 season, when it reached the College Football Playoff.
- 1961 NCAA basketball title: beat Ohio State 70–65 in overtime
- 1962 NCAA basketball title: beat Ohio State 71–59
- 1963 NCAA basketball runner-up: lost to Loyola Chicago 60–58 in overtime
- Football conference titles include Big East 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and American Athletic Conference 2014, 2020, 2021
- 2021 football season: College Football Playoff semifinal (Cotton Bowl), lost to Alabama 27–6
Program history
- 1885: Played its first football season.
- 1901: Played its first football game on the site that became Nippert Stadium.
- 1957–1960: Oscar Robertson won three national scoring titles and scored 2,973 points.
- 1961: Won the first of two straight NCAA basketball titles.
- 2009 season: Went 12–0 in the regular season and played in the Sugar Bowl.
- 2021 season: Became the first Group of Five team to play in the College Football Playoff.
- 2023: Joined the Big 12 Conference.
Program record holders
| Basketball career points | Oscar Robertson, 2,973 |
|---|---|
| Basketball career scoring average | Oscar Robertson, 33.8 points per game |
| Football career touchdown passes | Desmond Ridder, 87 (2018–2021) |
Retired basketball jerseys
- 4Kenyon Martin (men's basketball)
- 12Oscar Robertson (men's basketball)
- 27Jack Twyman (men's basketball)
- 24Cheryl Cook (women's basketball)
Naismith and College Football Hall of Famers
Oscar Robertson (Naismith), Jack Twyman (Naismith), Bob Huggins (Naismith, coach), Sid Gillman (College Football, coach).
Biggest rivalries
- Xavier Musketeers: the Crosstown Shootout, a men's basketball rivalry between two schools in the same city.
- Miami RedHawks: the Victory Bell football rivalry, dating to 1888.
- Louisville Cardinals: a former conference rival; the football series was played for the Keg of Nails trophy.
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How many national championships has Cincinnati won?
Two, both in men's basketball: 1961 and 1962. Both title games were against Ohio State.
Did Oscar Robertson win a title at Cincinnati?
No. Robertson played for the varsity from 1957 to 1960. The Bearcats won their titles in 1961 and 1962, after he left.
When did Cincinnati make the College Football Playoff?
After the 2021 season, when it went 13–0 before the playoff. It lost to Alabama 27–6 in the Cotton Bowl semifinal.
Who is Nippert Stadium named after?
Jimmy Nippert, a Cincinnati player who was spiked in the final game of the 1923 season and died about a month later of blood poisoning. His grandfather, James N. Gamble, paid to complete the stadium.
What conference is Cincinnati in?
The Big 12, which it joined in 2023. It was previously in the American Athletic Conference, the Big East and Conference USA.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.