Cincinnati–Memphis rivalry

The Cincinnati–Memphis rivalry is a college sports rivalry between the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and the University of Memphis Tigers. The rivalry between these two schools dates to their first men's college football game in 1966, and has continued across all sports, with the basketball series gaining attention as well, having started in 1968. The schools have also shared conferences historically, with the rivalry stretching over the span of five conferences from the Missouri Valley Conference, to the Metro Conference, Great Midwest Conference, Conference USA, and more recently in the American Athletic Conference.[1][2][3]

Cincinnati–Memphis rivalry
Cincinnati Bearcats
Memphis Tigers
SportFootball, basketball, others
First meeting1966
Locations of Cincinnati and Memphis

History
College Comparison
Cincinnati Memphis
Founded 18191912
Type PublicPublic
Location Cincinnati, OHMemphis, TN
Students 44,33821,521
School colors       
Nickname BearcatsTigers
Stadium Nippert StadiumLiberty Bowl
Arena Fifth Third ArenaFedExForum

Both universities share histories in their founding as small city universities into large universities with prominent Division 1 athletic programs. The schools would first face off as members of the Missouri Valley Conference in the 1960s and then both schools would be founding members of the Metro Conference, Great Midwest Conference, and Conference USA. The schools were reunited as conference rivals due to the 2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment as members of the American Athletic Conference. While the rivalry was represented annually in football, the true intensity of the rivalry was felt more deeply on the basketball court.

Since the founding of the American, the schools have had many notable contests in various sports. Most recently, with the football teams facing off in the 2019 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, with Memphis claiming the victory.

Football
See also: Cincinnati Bearcats football and Memphis Tigers football
Cincinnati–Memphis football rivalry
Cincinnati Bearcats
Memphis Tigers
SportCollege football
First meetingNovember 19, 1966
Memphis, 26–14
Latest meetingOctober 31, 2020
Cincinnati, 49–10
Next meetingTBD
Statistics
Meetings total37
All-time seriesMemphis leads, 23–14[4]
Longest win streakMemphis, 8 (1966–1974)
Current win streakCincinnati, 1 (2020–present)

Notable Games

Nov 24, 2001: Memphis was searching for their first winning season since 1994 and the story looked complete when the Tigers scored a touchdown with 2:16 left in the 4th quarter. However, Bearcats QB Gino Guidugli led a 75 yard drive, including a 36–yard catch on 4th and 27, that would end with the Bearcats scoring a touchdown with 4 seconds left to win 36–34.[5]

September 24, 2015: In a primetime Thursday night match, Memphis QB Paxton Lynch and Cincinnati QB Hayden Moore led a 99 point shootout. Moore, replacing the injured Gunner Kiel during the first quarter, would set a Cincinnati record throwing for 557 yards. Despite surrendering the most yards in Memphis football history, the Tigers would win the game 53–46.[6]

December 7, 2019: In what would be Mike Norvell's final game at Memphis, the No. 20 Bearcats and No. 17 Tigers clashed for the second consecutive week in the 2019 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game. Bearcats QB Desmond Ridder returned from injury to start and the teams went blow for blow, with the game having 6 lead changes. However, the Tigers once again proved to be too much for the Bearcats and would win 29–24 to clinch an appearance in the 2019 Cotton Bowl Classic.[7]

Game results

Rankings are from the AP Poll (1936–present), CFP Poll (2014–present)

Cincinnati victoriesMemphis victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 November 19, 1966 Memphis, TN Memphis State 26–14
2 September 30, 1967 Memphis, TN Memphis State 17–0
3 October 11, 1969 Cincinnati, OH Memphis State 52–6
4 November 28, 1970 Memphis, TN Memphis State 14–10
5 October 30, 1971 Cincinnati, OH Memphis State 45–21
6 November 11, 1972 Memphis, TN Memphis State 49–24
7 November 24, 1973 Cincinnati, OH Memphis State 17–13
8 October 12, 1974 Memphis, TN Memphis State 13–7
9 September 20, 1975 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati 13–3
10 November 25, 1978 Memphis, TN Cincinnati 34–14
11 November 24, 1979 Memphis, TN Memphis State 23–17
12 November 8, 1980 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati 14–10
13 November 7, 1981 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati 38–7
14 October 16, 1982 Memphis, TN Cincinnati 16–7
15 November 12, 1983 Cincinnati, OH Memphis State 43–10
16 September 22, 1984 Memphis, TN Memphis State 47–7
17 October 14, 1989 Cincinnati, OH Memphis State 34–17
18 October 10, 1992 Memphis, TN Memphis State 34–14
19 October 30, 1993 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati 23–20
20 October 22, 1994 Memphis, TN Memphis 26–3
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
21 October 21, 1995 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati 28–3
22 October 5, 1996 Memphis, TN Memphis 18–16
23 October 4, 1997 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati 20–17
24 October 17, 1998 Memphis, TN Memphis 41–23
25 November 20, 1999 Cincinnati, OH Memphis 21–13
26 November 11, 2000 Memphis, TN Cincinnati 13–10
27 November 24, 2001 Memphis, TN Cincinnati 36–34
28 October 26, 2002 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati 48–10
29 November 22, 2003 Memphis, TN Memphis 21–16
30 October 23, 2004 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati 49–10
31 October 30, 2013 Memphis, TN Cincinnati 34–21
32 October 4, 2014 Cincinnati, OH Memphis 41–14
33 September 24, 2015 Memphis, TN Memphis 53–46
34 November 18, 2016 Cincinnati, OH Memphis 34–7
35 November 29, 2019 Memphis, TN No. 18 Memphis 34–24
36 December 7, 2019† Memphis, TN No. 17 Memphis 29–24
37 October 31, 2020 Cincinnati, OH No. 7 Cincinnati 49–10
Series: Memphis leads 23–14[4][8]
† 2019 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game

Wins by location
CategoryCincinnatiMemphis
Cincinnati, OH98
Memphis, TN515

Men's Basketball
Cincinnati–Memphis basketball rivalry
Cincinnati Bearcats
Memphis Tigers
SportCollege basketball
First meetingJanuary 22, 1968
Cincinnati 75 – Memphis 68
Latest meetingFebruary 13, 2020
Cincinnati 92 – Memphis 86
Next meetingFebruary 11, 2021
Statistics
Meetings total81
All-time seriesCincinnati leads, 47–33
Largest victoryCincinnati by 34 (December 31, 2017)
Longest win streakMemphis, 11 (January 13, 1982–January 10, 1987)
Current win streakCincinnati, 1 (February 13, 2020–present)
Men's Basketball Comparison
Cincinnati Memphis
First Season 19011920
NCAA Championships 20
NCAA Final Fours 63*
NCAA Tournament Appearances 3326*
Conference Championships 2914*
Conference Tournament Championships 1211*
All-Americans 4438
Consensus 1st Team All-Americans 84
Player of the Year 30
Conference Player of the Year 1012
See also: Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball and Memphis Tigers men's basketball

Cincinnati and Memphis were rivals, first playing in 1968, until the 2010–14 NCAA conference realignment the teams had not played since 2008. The teams have faced off 79 times in basketball series history, with Cincinnati leading the all-time series 46–33 as of the end of the 2018–19 season.[9]

The teams have played six times in conference tournaments with Cincinnati leading 5–1. Memphis and Cincinnati have faced off once in the NCAA tournament, with Cincinnati leading 1–0.

Notable Games

March 29, 1992: In a rare coincidence, the Tigers and Bearcats faced off for the fourth time during the 1991–92 season, this time in the NCAA Elite Eight. Nick Van Exel and Cincinnati defeated Great Midwest Player of the Year Penny Hardaway in the two regular season matchups and in the tournament final hosted in Chicago. No. 12 Cincinnati would prove to be too much for the Tigers again in Kansas City beating the Tigers 88–57 before falling to the Michigan Fab Five in the Final Four.

February 6, 1993: After four defeats in the prior season, Memphis and Penny Hardaway were ready for blood when the Bearcats visited the Memphis Pyramid. The No. 4 Bearcats were defeated by the Tigers 68–66, recording Memphis their 1,000 program win and what would be Hardaway's only win as a player against Cincinnati.[10]

March 1, 1997: The No. 9 Bearcats were defeated in Memphis 75–63, in what became famously Memphis coach Larry Finch's final game as he was forced to resign by University of Memphis administrators. He would leave as Memphis's winningest coach of all time.[11]

Mar 3, 2002: Steve Logan and the No. 4 Bearcats came into their senior day game against the Tigers having won or shared each of Conference USA's six regular season titles, but the Tigers battled furiously to top Cincinnati. Cincinnati missed all 16 of their three-point attempts, with senior Logan having to take charge and tie the game with only 6.9 seconds left to send it to overtime. The Bearcats would prevail in the OT period 80–75.[12]

Mar 1, 2003: The Bearcats entered the game holding a six-game winning streak at the expense of the Tigers. Memphis dominated the second half and led by 23 points from Chris Massie, Memphis won, 67-48, handing Cincinnati its worst defeat in eight years of Conference USA play.[10]

Mar 6, 2004: No. 20 Memphis visited No. 13 Cincinnati having won 12 of their previous 13 games. In the regular season finale, Bearcat Tony Bobbitt would sink a critical three-pointer to give UC the lead with 36 seconds remaining. Cincinnati would win 83-79. [13]

Mar 5, 2005: It what would be Bob Huggins final game as against Memphis as Cincinnati's Head Coach, the No. 22 Bearcats won in a game with a bizarre ending. Mistakenly believing the Bearcats to have the lead, James White received the inbound and scored a lazy shot with only a few seconds remaining. That basket would prove to be the difference in beating John Calipari's Tigers 62–60.[14]

January 4, 2014: In the first game of the two teams in the American Athletic Conference, the Bearcats came storming into FedExForum to take on the No. 18 Tigers. Cincinnati would topple Memphis 69–53. Both teams would advance to the 2014 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as the rivalry was rekindled in the new conference.[15]

Game results

Rankings are from the AP Poll (1936–present)

Cincinnati victoriesMemphis victoriesTie gamesVacated wins[n 1]
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 January 22, 1968 Mid-South Coliseum Cincinnati 75–68
2 March 2, 1968 Armory Fieldhouse Cincinnati 72–63
3 January 25, 1969 Armory Fieldhouse Cincinnati 62–53
4 February 8, 1969 Mid-South Coliseum Cincinnati 75–68
5 January 24, 1970 Mid-South Coliseum Cincinnati 78–69
6 February 7, 1970 Armory Fieldhouse Cincinnati 77–63
7 January 24, 1976 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis State 85–79
8 March 6, 1976 Armory Fieldhouse No. 13 Cincinnati 103–95
9 January 31, 1977 Riverfront Coliseum No. 12 Cincinnati 88–82
10 March 4, 1977 Mid-South Coliseum No. 14 Cincinnati 68–67
11 January 14, 1978 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis State 67–63
12 January 21, 1978 Riverfront Coliseum Memphis State 83–76
13 January 22, 1979 Mid-South Coliseum No. 19 Cincinnati 63–61
14 February 10, 1979 Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati 87–79
15 January 7, 1980 Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati 74–64
16 February 14, 1980 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis State 61–59
17 January 31, 1981 Riverfront Coliseum Memphis State 99–85
18 February 7, 1981 Mid-South Coliseum Cincinnati 65–62
19 January 13, 1982 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis State 107–75
20 January 23, 1982 Riverfront Coliseum Memphis State 70–63
21 January 15, 1983 Riverfront Coliseum No. 1 Memphis State 80–63
22 February 28, 1983 Mid-South Coliseum No. 14 Memphis State 84–77
23 January 4, 1984 Riverfront Coliseum No. 19 Memphis State 85–62
24 February 27, 1984 Mid-South Coliseum No. 12 Memphis State 56–44
25 January 28, 1985 Mid-South Coliseum No. 4 Memphis State 81–61
26 February 13, 1985 Riverfront Coliseum No. 5 Memphis State 68–55
27 January 15, 1986 Riverfront Coliseum No. 6 Memphis State 89–71
28 February 3, 1986 Mid-South Coliseum No. 2 Memphis State 74–55
29 January 10, 1987 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis State 83–63
30 February 16, 1987 Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati 76–73
31 March 6, 1987A Freedom Hall Memphis State 87–58
32 January 25, 1988 Cincinnati Gardens Memphis State 75–70
33 February 22, 1988 Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati 106–90
34 January 7, 1989 Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati 89–79
35 February 15, 1989 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis State 81–71
36 February 3, 1990 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis State 82–64
37 February 15, 1990 Shoemaker Center Cincinnati 82–76
38 February 2, 1991 Shoemaker Center Cincinnati 73–59
39 February 14, 1991 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis State 70–63
40 January 18, 1992 Shoemaker Center Cincinnati 75–66
41 March 7, 1992 Memphis Pyramid No. 14 Cincinnati 69–59
42 March 14, 1992B Chicago Stadium No. 12 Cincinnati 75–63
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
43 March 29, 1992C Kemper Arena No. 12 Cincinnati 88–57
44 February 6, 1993 Memphis Pyramid Memphis State 68–66
45 March 6, 1993 Shoemaker Center No. 12 Cincinnati 78–55
46 March 13, 1993D Memphis Pyramid No. 11 Cincinnati 77–72
47 January 23, 1994 Memphis Pyramid Memphis State 62–55
48 February 3, 1994 Shoemaker Center No. 25 Cincinnati 69–64
49 March 12, 1994E Shoemaker Center No. 25 Cincinnati 68–47
50 February 3, 1995 Memphis Pyramid Memphis 74–69
51 March 2, 1995 Shoemaker Center Memphis 83–73
52 March 10, 1995F Bradley Center Cincinnati 77–64
53 February 29, 1996 Shoemaker Center No. 7 Cincinnati 71–66
54 March 1, 1997 Memphis Pyramid Memphis 75–63
55 January 8, 1998 Shoemaker Center Cincinnati 61–54
56 February 27, 1999 Memphis Pyramid No. 9 Cincinnati 89–64
57 January 19, 2000 Shoemaker Center No. 1 Cincinnati 75–55
58 February 15, 2001 Memphis Pyramid Cincinnati 66–65
59 March 9, 2001 Shoemaker Center Cincinnati 89–79
60 March 3, 2002 Shoemaker Center No. 4 Cincinnati 80–75OT
61 March 1, 2003 Memphis Pyramid No. 24 Memphis 67–48
62 March 6, 2004 Shoemaker Center No. 13 Cincinnati 83–79
63 March 5, 2005 FedExForum No. 22 Cincinnati 62–60
64 December 3, 2005 Fifth Third Arena No. 9 Memphis 91–81
65 January 4, 2007 FedExForum No. 22 Memphis 88–55
66 December 19, 2007 Fifth Third Arena No. 2 Memphis† 79–69
67 December 29, 2008 FedExForum Memphis 60–45
68 January 4, 2014 FedExForum Cincinnati 69–53
69 March 6, 2014 Fifth Third Arena No. 15 Cincinnati 97–84
70 January 15, 2015 FedExForum Memphis 63–50
71 March 8, 2015 Fifth Third Arena Cincinnati 77–65
72 January 21, 2016 Fifth Third Arena Cincinnati 76–72
73 February 6, 2016 FedExForum Memphis 63–59
74 February 23, 2017 Fifth Third Arena No. 15 Cincinnati 87–74
75 December 31, 2017 BB&T Arena No. 21 Cincinnati 82–48
76 January 27, 2018 FedExForum No. 9 Cincinnati 62–48
77 March 10, 2018G Amway Center No. 8 Cincinnati 70–60
78 February 7, 2019 FedExForum No. 25 Cincinnati 69–64
79 March 2, 2019 Fifth Third Arena No. 23 Cincinnati 71–69
80 January 17, 2020 FedExForum No. 22 Memphis 60–49
81 February 13, 2020 Fifth Third Arena Cincinnati 92–86OT
Series: Cincinnati leads 47–33
† Vacated by Memphis

Source[17]

Notes
  1. Memphis has vacated all of its victories from the 2007–08 season. These 38 wins are not included in Memphis's all-time record, nor is the victory against Cincinnati during this season counted in the series record between the two teams.[16]

A 1987 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
B 1992 Great Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
C 1992 NCAA Elite Eight
D 1993 Great Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
E 1994 Great Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
F 1995 Great Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
G 2018 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

Wins by location
CategoryCincinnatiMemphis
Cincinnati, OH2810
Chicago, IL10
Highland Heights, KY10
Kansas City, MO10
Louisville, KY01
Memphis, TN1422
Milwaukee, WI10
Orlando, FL10

Wins by venue
CategoryCincinnatiMemphis
Amway Center10
Armory Fieldhouse40
BB&T Arena10
Bradley Center10
Chicago Stadium10
Cincinnati Gardens21
FedExForum45
Shoemaker Center
Fifth Third Arena		182
Freedom Hall01
Kemper Arena10
Riverfront Coliseum47
Memphis Pyramid45
Mid-South Coliseum612

Women's Basketball
See also: Cincinnati Bearcats women's basketball and Memphis Tigers women's basketball

First playing in the 1977–78 season, Memphis now leads the all-time series 35–20 as of the end of the 2018–19 season. However, Cincinnati has won the last six games since January 14, 2017.[18]

Baseball
See also: Cincinnati Bearcats baseball and Memphis Tigers baseball

The baseball teams have met a total of 133 times since 1962, with Memphis leading the series 66–47 as of the end of the 2019 season.[19][20]

References
  1. "History of Cincinnati vs Memphis Football Series". SB Nation. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  2. "A look back at the history of the rivalry between the Tigers and Bearcats". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  3. Drew Hill. "Penny Hardaway, Nick Van Exel reminisce about Memphis vs. Cincinnati rivalry on the golf course". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  4. "Winsipedia - Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Memphis Tigers football series history". Winsipedia.
  5. "FOOTBALL EDGED BY CINCINNATI, 36-34". GoTigersGo. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  6. Peter Berkes. "Cincinnati loses 99-point shootout to Memphis when record-breaking QB throws wild INT". SB Nation. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  7. Chip Patterson. "Memphis vs. Cincinnati score, takeaways: Tigers claim AAC title, New Year's Six bid with comeback win". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  8. "Rivalry Finder". Sports Reference. Retrieved 25 Dec 2019.
  9. "UC Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). GoBearcats. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  10. Frank Murtaugh. "FROM MY SEAT". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  11. Dead Man Walking: The University of Memphis announced the forced resignation of head coach Larry Finch amidst an uncontrollable media frenzy, by Dennis Freeland, Memphis Flyer
  12. "Logan scores 30 to save No. 4 Cincinnati". ESPN. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  13. Perry, Michael (1 Jan 2004). Tales from Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 242. ISBN 9781582617459.
  14. "Bearcats post sixth straight victory". ESPN. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  15. Nicole Auerbach. "4-point play: Cincinnati tops Memphis". USA Today. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  16. . ESPN, 2010-03-22.
  17. "Matchup Finder". Sports Reference. Retrieved 25 Dec 2019.
  18. "2019-20 University of Cincinnati Women's Basketball Media Guide". issuu.com. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  19. "Baseball History vs University of Memphis from May 13, 2005 - May 21, 2019". GoBearcats. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  20. "2017 UC Baseball Media Guide" (PDF). GoBearcats. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
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