The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Battle for the Victory Bell (OH)

Cincinnati36-34-1Miami (OH)
National Program II#48 of 138–Regional Program I#85 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
3 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Cincinnati leads the all-time series 36-34-1. They've met 71 times since 1954. Cincinnati once took 16 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Cincinnati
Win total
6.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -3
What fans are saying · program direction
One fan believes Cincinnati failed to address Sorsby's gambling publicly
People act like Tech knew and recruited Sorsby despite his problem. They didn't. They just followed court orders. Cincinnati knew and played him for two years.
Verified verbatim
Miami (OH)
Transfer portal
-1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +4

Stature & the series, 1954–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeCincinnatiMiami (OH)every meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Cincinnati won, gray: Miami (OH) won)1960198020002020

The identity war

Miami (OH) has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Cincinnati led 7 and Miami (OH) led 16.

more passmore runCincinnatiMiami (OH)2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262012Miami (OH) 16.4 ptsCincinnati won 52-142006Miami (OH) 11.9 ptsCincinnati won 24-102016Cincinnati 10.8 ptsCincinnati won 27-20
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Cincinnati by 42 in 2010. The biggest crowd, 41,926, was in 2014.

The coaching duels

Dave Currey vs Tim Rose3-2
Rick Minter vs Randy Walker2-2-1
Rick Minter vs Terry Hoeppner2-3
Luke Fickell vs Chuck Martin5-0
Charles Studley vs Bo Schembechler1-3
Ray Callahan vs Bill Mallory1-3

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
79-29
Cincinnati leads
1st-rounders
3-2
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
CincinnatiMiami (OH)
1960s3-3
1970s7-6
1980s3-1
1990s11-3
2000s18-9
2010s14-3
2020s23-4

Best picks, either side

2022Ahmad Gardner Cornerback · New York JetsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1969Greg Cook Quarterback · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
2004Ben Roethlisberger Quarterback · Pittsburgh SteelersRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
1969Bob Babich Linebacker · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 18#18 overall
1971Bob Bell Defensive Tackle · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 21#21 overall
2012Derek Wolfe Defensive Tackle · Denver BroncosRd 2, pick 4#36 overall
1987Alex Gordon Linebacker · New York JetsRd 2, pick 14#42 overall
1998Artrell Hawkins Defensive Back · Cincinnati BengalsRd 2, pick 13#43 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Miami (OH)1.42×its own average home crowd
Cincinnati1.13×its own average home crowd
2026Cincinnati35-31
2024Cincinnati27-16
2023Miami (OH)31-24Cincinnati — Cincinnati favored by 14.5
2022Cincinnati38-17
2021Cincinnati49-14
2019Cincinnati35-13
2018Cincinnati21-0Miami (OH) — Miami (OH) routed by 21
2017Cincinnati21-17
2016Cincinnati27-20
2015Cincinnati37-33
2014Cincinnati31-24
2013Cincinnati14-0
2012Cincinnati52-14
2011Cincinnati27-0

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Cincinnati’s chance to win through that meeting.

2026Cincinnati 35-31Cincinnati won 35-31 vs Miami (OH). Chance to win started at 71%, low 3%, high 99%.Busy
2024Cincinnati 27-16Cincinnati won 27-16 at Miami (OH). Chance to win started at 58%, low 48%, high better than 99%.
2022Cincinnati 38-17Cincinnati won 38-17 vs Miami (OH). Chance to win started at 94%, low 66%, high 99%.
2021Cincinnati 49-14Cincinnati won 49-14 vs Miami (OH). Chance to win started at 93%, low 93%, high better than 99%.
2019Cincinnati 35-13Cincinnati won 35-13 vs Miami (OH). Chance to win started at 88%, low 61%, high better than 99%.
2018Cincinnati 21-0Cincinnati won 21-0 at Miami (OH). Chance to win started at 50%, low 44%, high better than 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “Dang! I was looking forward to the satt sacking! Still shouldn’t keep him but he may have survived a morning sacking”
    A Cincinnati fan

Meetings with their own story page

9 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2024.