... last year’s loss in the Orange Bowl.

After replacing 10 starters on defense, the Bearcats began the season unranked, scratched and clawed until they pushed back into the top 25.

They set a school record for wins and were ranked an all-time high at No. 3, to the chagrin of their more traditional in-state powerhouse, The Buckeyes.

With quality wins over Oregon State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and South Florida, the Bearcats proved they were for real. Remember, Oregon State came within four points of winning the Pac-10 this year.

The unlikely Bearcats were poised for a shot at the national championship, had Texas lost to Nebraska in the Big 12 title game that literally came down to the final second....

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