Get ready, college football fans, because one of Division I’s oldest rivalries is hitting the field for what might be the very last time, and it is going down in a spot nobody saw coming. The 129th “Battle for the Victory Bell” between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Miami RedHawks is set for September 19 at TQL Stadium, making it the first American football game ever played on FC Cincinnati’s natural grass. This historic showdown, dating back to a 0-0 tie in 1888, has reached its final scheduled chapter.
The Bell’s Bitter End: A Rivalry Forged in Time
This isn’t just another game, folks; we’re talking about a rivalry that spans 128 games, with the Bearcats holding a razor-thin edge at 61 wins to the RedHawks’ 60, plus seven ties. The tension has only cranked up recently, too. Both schools actually pulled the plug on the home-and-home series back in 2023. Miami snapped a brutal 16-game skid against UC that year, beating them 31-24 in overtime, then decided to bail on return trips to Nippert Stadium in 2025 and 2028. Cincinnati fired back, backing out of games at Yager Stadium in 2027 and 2029. The Bearcats did manage to regain the Victory Bell in the last actual game played, a 27-16 win in Oxford in 2024. Now, the 2026 neutral site game at TQL Stadium, originally slated for Paycor Stadium, is meant to be the true finale.
Bearcats Are Bringing the Heat, But Coach Satterfield Knows the Stakes
While the history books are closing on this rivalry, the Bearcats are not going out quietly. Their offensive line is playing out of its mind this season. Pro Football Network graded UC’s O-line as the best in Week 2 games with a dominant 92.3. Right tackle Judea Milon is balling out, grabbing the second-best grade in the nation at 90, and left tackle Joe Cotton isn’t far behind at ninth with an 86.5. This kind of upfront power is why UC’s offense as a whole is No. 12 among Division I teams, tied with Kansas State at an 86.6. Milon and linebacker Simeon Coleman even made the Big 12 Team of the Week by Pro Football Focus. Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield knows what this game means, especially for the new guys. “We all know what this means,” Satterfield said. “The thing that’s interesting is you have a lot of new players and getting across to the new guys the importance of this game.” He’s leaning on veterans like linebackers Jonathan Thompson and Antwan Peek Jr. to get the newcomers fired up to ring that Victory Bell one last time.
So, on Saturday, September 19, TQL Stadium will host a game that is more than just a win or loss; it is the culmination of 138 years of gridiron battles. With Cincinnati’s O-line smashing through defenses, this final clash for the Victory Bell is going to be an absolute brawl. Will this truly be the last dance? If it’s a financial hit, TQL Stadium could host again, but for now, this is it. You absolutely do not want to miss the last chapter of this legendary rivalry!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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