ARLINGTON, Texas – With a little more than 10 minutes left, the University of Cincinnati’s football team needed to convert a fourth down from the 22-yard line to keep their national championship hopes alive.
Quarterback Desmond Ridder, out of a timeout, took the snap, faked a handoff to his running back, dropped back two steps and saw Alabama defensive back Brian Branch in his face. Ridder tried to sprint forward, needing three yards for a first down. He made it one step before Branch and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. wrestled him to turf.
The Bearcats, who won all 13 of their regular-season games with their gritty defense and balanced offense, didn’t have an answer for the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a 27-6 loss in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl on Thursday.