Cincinnati is the only team in The American to return its leading rusher, passer and receiver from last season. Wide receiver Khalil Lewis led Cincinnati with 676 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions. Quarterback Hayden Moore has been the Bearcats’ primary starter in each of the past two seasons, but could be pressed for the nod in 2018 with the early development of a pair of freshmen. Gerrid Doaks finished 2017 as the Bearcats’ leading rusher, despite missing three games due to injury. Doaks averaged 5.9 yards per attempt. Offensive guard Garrett Campbell started all 12 games last year and is joined by offensive tackle Kyle Trout, who made seven starts after transferring from Ohio State.

Defensive tackle Cortez Broughton, who earned all-conference second team honors in 2016, joins 2017 honorable mention all-conference defensive tackle Marquise Copeland and veteran defensive end Kevin Mouhon to provide one of the more formidable defensive lines in The American. Linebacker Perry Young registered 101 tackles last season and is the Bearcats’ top returning tackler. Young had double figures in tackles in five games. Senior cornerback Tyrell Gilbert is the only returning starter in the secondary and will be called upon to lead a comparatively young unit.

Cincinnati started the 2017 season at 2-6, but the Bearcats won two of their last four games, including a come-from-behind victory against UConn in the season finale. The Bearcats look to end a two-year absence from bowl participation. Cincinnati begins the 2018 season at UCLA in the first meeting between those teams. The following week has the Bearcats against Miami (Ohio) for the 123rd battle for the Victory Bell. This year’s Victory Bell game will be played at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.