October 04, 2021

IRVING, Texas – Senior quarterback Desmond Ridder collected American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors for sixth time in his career after leading the Bearcats past No. 9 Notre Dame, 24-13, in South Bend, Ind., on Saturday.
 
Ridder passed for 297 yards and two touchdowns and added 26 yards and a score on the ground. The Louisville, Ky., native finished 19-of-32 with no interceptions against one of the country’s top defenses.
 
Ridder tossed pinpoint passes of 36 yards, 44 yards and 45 yards and was at his best when it mattered most. After Notre Dame closed UC’s lead to 4, 17-13, with eight minutes remaining in the game, Ridder led a six-play, 75-yard drive which he capped with a six-yard touchdown rush.
 
He improved his career mark to 34-4 (.894) to remain the nation’s winningest active quarterback.
 
GARDNER NAMED TO AAC WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Junior cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was named to the AAC’s weekly honor roll after his dominant performance at Notre Dame. Gardner locked down his side of the field, allowing only two receptions for nine yards, while recording an interception in the end zone to thwart Notre Dame’s opening possession after the Irish had marched to the UC 6-yard line. Gardner, an All-American in 2020, has two interceptions in 2021 despite rarely being tested as Cincinnati’s boundary cornerback.
 
RIDDER ADDS DAVEY O’BRIEN AWARD GREAT 8 LIST AND MANNING STAR OF THE WEEK HONORS
Ridder’s performance at Notre Dame also garnered the senior signal-caller mention as one of eight quarterback on the Davey O’Brien Great 8 list.
 
Additionally, Ridder was one of eight quarterbacks named a Manning Award Star of the Week. College football fans can now go to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Facebook page to vote for what they think was the best performance from this past weekend. When voting closes on Thursday at 11 a.m. (Central), the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week. 
 
UP NEXT
Cincinnati opens American Athletic Conference play on Friday at 7 p.m. when Temple comes to Nippert Stadium. 
 
Fans can buy tickets for remaining games HERE.
 
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