The Cincinnati Bearcats rank among the top football teams in the Midwest and are among a handful of great team in the State of Ohio. The Bearcats play in the American Athletic Conference, where they have been a mainstay in the AAC Championship Game. The Bearcats football schedule includes games against many of the top teams in college football. Cincy's biggest conference games are their match-ups with UCF, South Florida, SMU and Tulsa. Among their biggest rivals are Louisville, Memphis, Pittsburgh and Xavier. A great season for Cincinnati football fans would be to run the table in their conference, earning a bid in the AAC Football Championship Game, which keeps them in the hunt for an invite to the College Football Playoff, or a major bowl game. The Bearcats started playing football way back in 1885.