University of Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell equates the first game of each season to Christmas morning.
On Christmas Day, anxiety and excitement fill the air as kids awake bright and early to find out what Santa Claus left under the tree. In Fickell's case, he'll wake up early Saturday, travel to Nippert Stadium to find out what his No. 8/10-ranked (Associated Press/Coaches) Bearcats are made of when they open the 2021 season against in-state rival Miami University (3:30 p.m. on ESPN+).
"As always, for me in Week 1, (it's) really to see what kind of team we have," Fickell said.