Cincinnati announced Tuesday its 2014 football season will begin Sept. 12 with a visit from Toledo.
That is a Friday night game that comes nearly two full weeks after most of the rest of the country has begun playing.
Like the other five home games, the visit from the Rockets will be played at Paul Brown Stadium, the home of the Cincinnati Bengals in downtown Cincinnati. That is because Nippert Stadium is undergoing an $86 million dollar renovation and expansion that is scheduled to last until late summer 2015.
The rest of the nonconference schedule for the Bearcats consists of the battle for the Victory Bell against Miami (Ohio) at PBS (Sept. 20) and marquee road games against Ohio State (Sept. 27) and Miami (Fla.) on Oct. 11.
"We are certainly looking forward to some great matchups, strong national television exposure and the chance to build on what we started here in 2013," head coach Tommy Tuberville said via a team release.
The Bearcats begin American Athletic Conference play Oct. 4 at home against Memphis.
The visit from the Hurricanes will be the first of a home-and-home between UC and Miami.
"Looking forward, we also thought it was critical to give our fans a marquee opponent inside the newly renovated Nippert Stadium in 2015," Tuberville added. "I am excited that the department is working hard on things that will make our season downtown in Paul Brown special. I believe our fans will be excited and we truly need their support. We will continue to seek out the best possible schedule that gives us the optimal chance to be successful on a national stage."
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