The University of Cincinnati's proud athletics history turned a whole new page as this year's Bearcat football team won the Big East and earned their spot in a Bowl Champsionship Series Game at the FedEx Orange Bowl Jan. 1.

UC, 11-2, will face the 9-4 Virginia Tech Hokies at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Fla.

A record Nippert Stadium crowd of 35,098 watched as UC beat Pitt in a crucial game Nov. 22. One week later, the Bearcats locked up their place as the outright conference champions with a 30-10 pounding of Syracuse. They completed the regular season with a 29-24 win at Hawaii Dec 7, securing the most wins in a season by any UC football team in history. The Bearcats finished their regular-season campaign ranked 12th in the BCS standings.

Related Links:
View video of crucial win over Pitt
Read about and see photos from Syracuse win
Read about and see photos from Pitt win
Cincinnati bowl history
Watch Coach Brian Kelly's first UC press conference