CINCINNATI — The cupboard wasn't left completely bare, but Luke Fickell had some major restocking to do.
The sixth-year Cincinnati coach is tasked with following up a historic 2021 season that saw the Bearcats become the first team outside a Power Five conference to crack the College Football Playoff.
The dream season ended with a 27-6 loss to Alabama in a semifinal, and then Cincinnati (13-1) watched a school-record nine players get selected in the NFL draft, led by cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, taken fourth overall by the New York Jets.
After losing the core of his best players, the pressure is on Fickell to show that the No.