Cincinnati started playing Miami in 1888. The series didn't have a victor until 1889. Cincinnati didn't win until 1894. Miami has won 59 times, Cincinnati 51. It's going to be 59-52 unless a gigantic upset occurs, UC is a 23.5 point favorite. This is one of the oldest and longest running rivalry games to date. The longest running rivalry fact is pretty sad considering that conference realignment has killed a lot of traditional rivalries. The longest winning streak in the series is 7 games. That's the streak Cincinnati is riding.
There is a different streak tied to the series as well. That number is 9. The last 9 meetings between Cincinnati and Miami have been decided by at least 14 points. The closest margin in the last 6 meetings is 24. The average margin of victory of the last 9 meetings is 28.2. The only thing saving the streak from 10 is a pretty meaningless Cincinnati touchdown with a minute to go in 2003.
The margin between the programs hasn't been seemingly close since the mid-90s. 93-95 saw a Cincinnati win, a tie, and a Miami win. Cincinnati won the next pair of meetings by a combined 10 points. The latter in 1997. The following year, Miami put the largest beat down of Cincinnati in their history, 41-0. UC won the next two meetings 52-42 and 45-15. Miami won by single digits the next 3 seasons, but they won for the next three seasons. UC won by 19 in 2004, Miami's last win over UC in 2005 was a 44-16 margin.
Cincinnati has shown no signs of slowing down, despite whatever conference nonsense is taking place. Miami has been hit hard with coaching changes and roster turnover. The parts just aren't there for the Redhawks like they use to be. Cincinnati could be in position to reel off a major streak. The streak will end one day. It doesn't appear to be soon.
Miami didn't lose to UC for 8 years in a row, from 1912-1919. Two of those games were ties. They won 8 of 9 against UC from 1913-1922. UC had a completely dominant stretch in the late 30s-early 40s. They shut Miami out 3 games in a row, 13-0, 44-0 and 26-0. The 44-0 is Cincinnati's largest margin of victory over Miami.
Miami had a string of 7 of 8 and 8 of 10 in the series meetings in the 1960s. Miami won 8 of 9 and 9 of 11 between 1971 and 1981. From 1960-1980, Cincinnati beat Miami 4 times.
Cincinnati improved in the 80s to take 6 of 10. Miami won 4 of the first 6 games of the 90s. 1994 was the last tie these teams will ever have. Miami won in 1995 to make the series 54-39-7. The series rests at 58-51-7 in favor of Miami.
With Cincinnati riding the hot hand, let's take a look at the last 7 meetings.
2006
Cincinnati 24 Miami 10
This game was a defensive battle for the most part. Neither team eclipsed 300 yards. Miami was held to 226. The Redhawks were 5-17 on 3rd down and 0-4 on 4th. The lowest scoring game in modern times saw the Bearcats reel off 17 straight to go up 17-3. Miami scored on a punt return by Ryne Robinson. Miami hurt themselves with turnovers. A fumble at the 11 set up the second Cincinnati TD. Daniel Raudabaugh threw his second INT of the game in the 4th quarter. Dustin Grutza led a drive that ended with a 20 yard TD pass to Derrick Stewart for the margin. That was one of just 11 passes Grutza attempted. UC threw for 43 yards. They ran the ball 42 times.
2007
Cincinnati 47 Miami 10
Things started terribly for Miami. They fumbled on the opening drive, which led to a Butler Benton TD. A couple drives later, Mardy Gilyard blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety. Gilyard then caught a 6 yard TD pass just because he was that awesome. UC went up 23-0 on a catch by Greg Moore from Dustin Grutza. Miami pulled off 10 straight to get kind of into it, but Doug Jones pounded in a 5 yard TD run. On Miami's next drive, Deangleo Smith put things away with a 54 yard pick 6. UC's scrubs scored the last TD.
2008
Cincinnati 45 Miami 20
This game was significant because it was the first game Tony Pike started. He was pretty good, going 20-24 for 241 yards and 3 TDs. He also ran for 33 yards. UC wasted no time. John Goebel took the opening kick to the Miami 28. Jake Rogers hit a field goal. Goebel cashed in the next drive with a 5 yard run. Miami scored a field goal, but UC answered with a Pike TD pass to Mardy Gilyard. Daniel Raudabaugh led the Redhawks down the field, ending a 10 play drive with a 10 yard TD pass. John Goebel responded with a 20 yard touchdown run. Nathan Parseghian kicked a field goal right before the half to make it 24-13, which was important because Miami scored on their first drive of the second half to make it 24-20. The Redhawks were driving for a go ahead score when Mike Mickens picked off a pass and ran 72 yards for a touchdown. Pike hit Ben Guidulgli from 24 yards out with a strike to push the lead up to 18. He connected with another TD pass with 2 and a half minutes left.
2009
Cincinnati 37 Miami 13
The Bearcats started the game off pretty fast. They scored on their second drive with a 4 yard run by Jacob Ramsey, but Jake Rogers missed the kick. UC second on the next drive, after a 7 yard punt, with a 35 yard pass from Tony Pike to Armon Binns. Ramsey added his second rushing TD of the game after Miami went for it on 4th and 1 from their 27. The Redhawks marched down the field with an 8 minute drive that ended with a Thomas Merriweather 1 yard run. UC put up a Jake Rogers field goal before the half to make it 23-7. Miami scored the only points of the 3rd quarter with a 19 yard TD pass from Zac Dysert. After another poor Miami punt, UC started in Miami territory. It took the offense just 4 plays, the last being a 2 yard run by Ramsey for his 3rd TD of the day, to put the game out of reach. It would be more out of reach after the next drive, where Mardy Gilyard caught a 23 yard TD pass. UC put 434 yards on Miami in 19 minutes of possesion. The Brian Kelly days were fun.
2010
Cincinnati 45 Miami 3
This was an absolutle demolition. Cincinnati hung 609 yards on the Redhawks. Miami managed just 269 yards. The Cats got it going right away with a 48 yard touchdown from Zach Collaros to Armon Binns. DJ Woods scored on a 18 yard run, which was followed by a 32 yard TD catch by Binns. On UC's next possession, Isaiah Pead burst out with an 80 yard run. Trevor Cook hit a 48 yard field goal to get Miami on the board. It was answered by a Jake Rogers field goal on the next possession. John Goebel added a 2 yard run because he loved playing Miami. The half, yes this was all in the first half, ended with a 6 yard TD pass from Collaros to Guidugli, who also liked playing Miami. This was the second largest margin for a Cincinnati win over Miami ever.
2011
Cincinnati 27 Miami 0
For the first time since 1976 Cincinnati shut out Miami. It was the first shutout in the rivalry since 1998. Miami was held to 264 yards. They had a hopeful series low of -3 yards rushing. Cincinnati struggled with turnovers in this game. Zach Collaros threw a pick in the end zone, UC punted on 4th and 1 from the Miami 37, which should have been a turnover, Collaros fumbled, but none of those early mistakes hurt. An 11 yard punt set UC up at the 41. In two plays Collaros ran for 11, then hit Travis Kelce for a 30 yard TD. The kick was missed. Miami missed a field goal to start the second half and that was about it for them. UC went 80 yards in 4 plays, capped by a 3 yard Pead TD. The Cats put together a 12 play, 80 yard drive that ended with another short Pead TD run. The scoring ended when UC blocked a punt that JK Schaffer returned for a touchdown. Total ass kicking.
2012
Cincinnati 52 Miami 14
Last season's game was yet another Bearcat domination. This one looked more fair on the stat sheet, but not in reality. Miami scored on their first drive, but couldn't convert. That would be their last lead. Cameron Cheatham had a pick 6 to put UC ahead. Danny Milligan caught an 11 yard TD, Thrilligan, and George Winn ran in a 6 yarder before a Tony Miliano field goal made it 24-6. Miami got 8 back at the end of the half with a Zac Dysert TD pass to Nick Harwell and a Dysert run for the conversion. The third quarter was all UC. Munchie Legaux hit Travis Kelce for a 19 yard TD and ran for one around a George Winn TD run. Tion Green scored in the 4th quarter to give us the final.
Here are the stats during the winning streak.
Miami yards
2,078
Cincinnati yards
2,997
Miami rushing
286
Cincinnati rushing
1,513
Miami passing
1,792
Cincinnati passing
1,484
Miami first downs
133
Cincinnati first downs
149
Miami 3rd downs
40-115, 34.8%
Cincinnati 3rd downs
47-90, 52.2%
Miami 4th downs
5-19, 26.3%
Cincinnati 4th downs
3-4, 75%
Miami turnovers
16
Cincinnati turnovers
9
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