The 2009 season was arguably the best in Cincinnati 's 125-year football history . The Bearcats won a school-record 12 games and finished the regular season fourth in both major media polls , their highest ranking ever . They won their second consecutive Big East Conference championship and played in their second consecutive Bowl Championship Series game , the Sugar Bowl vs Florida . It was also the second BCS bowl appearance in school history
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team