2012 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Bearcats , led by third year head coach Butch Jones , played their home games at Nippert Stadium and were a member of the Big East Conference . They finished the season 10 – 3 , 5 – 2 in Big East play to finish in a four way tie for the conference championship . Along with Rutgers , Louisville , and Syracuse , the Bearcats were the final football champions of the Big East Football Conference , as the league 's original incarnation folded following the loss of the three former programs and others to different conferences . Cincinnati would become a charter member of the American Athletic Conference the following season . They were invited to the Belk Bowl where they defeated Duke
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2012 Cincinnati Bearcats football team