The Fickell Era Feels Like a Million Years Ago

In 2021, Cincinnati made the College Football Playoff. The first Group of Five team ever. Desmond Ridder was a star. The defense was elite. Luke Fickell was the hottest coaching name in the country.

It feels like ancient history now.

Cincinnati has gone 6-6 in back-to-back seasons. They’re stuck in the middle of the Big 12 standings. The playoff run feels like it happened to a different program in a different era.

What happened?

The easy answer is Fickell left. He took the Wisconsin job after the playoff season, and everything changed. The identity he built — physical, disciplined, defensive-minded — walked out the door with him.

But it’s more complicated than just losing a coach. The Big 12 is harder than the AAC. The week-to-week grind is different. The athletes are bigger and faster. Cincinnati went from being the best program in a mid-tier conference to being a middle-of-the-pack program in a power conference.

That’s a hard adjustment.

Scott Satterfield is trying. I genuinely believe he’s doing his best. But he inherited a roster that was built for the AAC and is trying to retrofit it for Big 12 competition. That takes time. Maybe more time than Cincinnati fans want to give him.

The quarterback situation hasn’t helped. Brendan Sorsby showed flashes but also turned the ball over too much. Eleven interceptions is a problem. You can’t win consistently in the Big 12 if your quarterback is giving the ball away.

Jake’s note: Cincinnati’s fall has been lowkey sad to watch. They were SO GOOD in 2021. Desmond Ridder was a baller. The defense was nasty. And now they’re just… there. Another 6-6 team hoping for a mid-tier bowl.

I don’t think Cincinnati is doomed. The location is good — they can recruit Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky. The facilities are solid. Nippert Stadium is a genuinely fun place to watch football.

But they need Satterfield to show progress in Year 4. If they’re 6-6 again next year, the conversation about his future is going to get loud.

The playoff run proved Cincinnati can compete at the highest level. They just have to get back there.

— Mike