The Cincinnati Bearcats fell into an early deficit against Alabama early in the first quarter of Friday's Cotton Bowl - the College Football Playoff semifinal between the two teams at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas - as the Crimson Tide scored on their opening drive of Friday's game on Slade Bolden's 8-yard touchdown reception from Bryce Young to complete an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
"This first quarter's really, really big for us," Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell told ESPN's Laura Rutledge just before kickoff.
UC responded with a field goal after it had a 1st-and-goal at the Bama 9.