Late-game clock management costs Cincinnati in Peach Bowl vs. Georgia
The 2020 campaign was an excellent one overall for Luke Fickell, but it ended with many scratching their heads.
Despite leading for the majority of the game, Cincinnati dropped the Peach Bowl to Georgia thanks in large part to a series of clock management decisions by its head coach.
The Bearcats led by two points late in the fourth quarter but opted to snap the ball with 10 seconds remaining on the play clock on first down and 12 seconds left on second down. The game clock was running on both plays.
On third down, Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder threw a deep, incomplete pass. The Bulldogs proceeded to get the ball back and kick the game-winning field goal with seven seconds remaining in the game.
Cincy snapped the ball on a moving game clock with 12 & 10 seconds left on play clock....
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 1, 2021
22 seconds Cincy saved for UGA
then without any UGA timeouts & 1:41 left Cincy passed deep on 3rd & 2 rather than running
40 seconds saved
With 7 seconds left UGA kicked game winning FG pic.twitter.com/IikOwQI05h
Cincinnati ended up conceding a safety on the final play of the game, clinching the 24-21 win in favor of Kirby Smart's Georgia.
The Bearcats finished the season with a 9-1 record and Fickell's first AAC championship as head coach.