The University of Cincinnati Bearcats football team will open the 2021 season with the highest preseason Associated Press ranking in program history.
The Bearcats were ranked No. 8 when the first AP poll was released Monday. The No. 8 ranking comes a week after the team was selected No. 10 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
Cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Garnder was selected as a preseason First-Team All-American by USA TODAY Sports, while defensive lineman Myjai Sanders was selected to the Second-Team.
Quarterback Desmond Ridder and head coach Luke Fickell also garnered plenty of preseason honors.