Bearcats break through, No. 1 Alabama awaits in Cotton Bowl

By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cincinnati is the first outsider to make the College Football Playoff and Alabama is the standard bearer. They will meet in a semifinal game on New Year’s Eve in the Cotton Bowl. American Athletic Conference champion Cincinnati is the only undefeated team at 13-0. The Bearcats were fourth in the final CFP rankings to become the first non-Power Five team to make the final four. Top-seeded Alabama is 12-1 and is making its seventh appearance in the eight seasons of the four-team format. This is Cincinnati’s first Cotton Bowl. Alabama won a CFP semifinal in the Cotton Bowl six years ago.