UC Bearcats clash with Miami RedHawks at TQL Stadium – the Victory Bell returns to a soccer field

When you think of a college football rivalry, you picture a packed football stadium, the roar of brass bands and the smell of fresh-cut grass. This September, the UC Bearcats and the Miami RedHawks rewrote that script by taking the 129th "Battle for the Victory Bell" onto the green at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium.

It wasn’t an accident. Earlier this year, the schools announced the switch from Paycor Stadium—home of the Bengals and the venue for the 2022 meeting—to the soccer‑specific TQL Stadium in the West End. That move made history: it was the first time an American football contest was staged on that pitch, and it was UC’s inaugural grass game of the season.

With a listed capacity of about 26,000, TQL Stadium felt intimate compared with the 65,515‑seat Paycor or even the 38,088‑seat Nippert. Still, the atmosphere was electric. Fans from both schools filled the stands, some squeezing into standing‑room spots just to be part of the action.

The game itself was a roller‑coaster. Miami surged ahead early, building a 21‑point lead by halftime. The Bearcats, led by head coach Scott Satterfield, didn’t panic. Instead, they leaned into their strengths— a bruising offensive line and a quarterback, JC French IV, who kept the drives alive.

The turning point came late in the fourth quarter. With just over a minute left, running back Cole Tabb broke through for a 53‑yard touchdown, putting Cincinnati ahead 35‑31. A fumble recovery by the Bearcats in the final seconds sealed the victory, leaving the RedHawks clutching at what could have been a comeback of their own.

“I thought our guys didn’t panic,” Satterfield said in the post‑game interview, a sentiment echoed by the jubilant crowd. The win nudged the series record to 62‑60‑7 in favor of Cincinnati, preserving the Victory Bell for another year.

Beyond the score, the matchup highlighted the evolving nature of college football venues. Playing on a soccer field forced both teams to adjust their special‑teams schemes and emphasized the versatility of modern athletes. And for the fans, it was a fresh way to experience a storied rivalry that dates back to 1888.

Looking ahead, the Bearcats now turn their focus to Big 12 play, but the memory of that night at TQL—grass under cleats, a bell ringing, and a last‑second surge—will linger long after the final whistle.