Cincinnati Bearcats set to face Miami RedHawks in Battle for the Victory Bell

The recent successes of University of Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell and his Bearcats have forced the school's athletic department to do some redecorating, particularly in the prominent trophy case just inside the Richard E. Lindner Center on the school's main campus.

UC recently added to the case the Bearcats' 2021 College Football Playoff semifinal trophy, their back-to-back 2020 and 2021 American Athletic Conference championship trophies, former Cincinnati cornerback Coby Bryant's 2021 Jim Thorpe Award (college football's top defensive back), fellow former Bearcats corner Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner's unanimous 2021 AAC Defensive Player of the Year trophy, former UC quarterback Desmond Ridder's 2021 AAC Offensive Player of the Year trophy and five of Fickell's 2021 National Coach of the Year trophies.

That hardware collectively represents an unprecedented run for the Cincinnati football program.

So does the Victory Bell.

Cincinnati (1-1), coming off last week's 63-10 home-opening win against Kennesaw State, will face in-state rival Miami University on Saturday (noon on ESPNU) in the 126th Battle for Victory Bell. It's the nation's oldest FBS non-league rivalry and the FBS' second-oldest rivalry overall.

"When they walked in the door here on Sunday, as we wrapped up Saturday's game, first and foremost, the most importantly thing that they understood was what rivalries are all about and what this rivalry means to us and our program," Fickell said Tuesday. "We pay a lot of respect to that. Not just the way we play, but the way we prepare and the way we go about this entire week."

The winner of Saturday's showdown will take home bragging rights and the Victory Bell, the traveling trophy associated with the rivalry series. Cincinnati has claimed the trophy 15 straight times. The Bearcats haven't lost to the RedHawks (1-1) since Sept. 28, 2005, at Miami.

"I've said it since the day I got here, and I'll say it today, and I say it every day in the meeting, and I'll end practice with it, rivalry is about respect," said Fickell, who is 4-0 against Miami as Cincinnati head coach. "And there's no greater respect that I've got for this rivalry than anything. The team will understand that, the team will know that, and we will prepare that way. To me, that's the key."

Saturday's winner will also grab an overall advantage in the series. Both schools own 59 wins against the other (59-59-7). A win by Cincinnati will mark its first series lead against the rival RedHawks since 1915.

"Believe me, they know," Fickell said of his players. "They knew that when we went over it in camp."

The Bearcats defeated Miami 49-14 last season at Nippert Stadium. Saturday's rivalry contest will take place at Paycor Stadium, the home of the Cincinnati Bengals. The RedHawks will be the "home" team and will wear their home uniforms.

"I don't know that it's a big deal who wears what uniforms," Fickell said. "Neither one of us are truly at our own stadium. But for me, more than anything, you want to create an environment – whether it's their fans or our fans – that is exciting."

Saturday will be the third time the two teams play at Paycor Stadium, previously named Paul Brown Stadium (2014 and 2018). Cincinnati and Miami will play there again in 2026. The Battle for the Victory Bell series between the two programs is under contract through the 2029 season.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: College football: Cincinnati Bearcats to face Miami for Victory Bell