Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the athletic teams that represent the University of Cincinnati. The teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and the Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the Big 12 Conference.
| Cincinnati Bearcats | |
|---|---|
| University | University of Cincinnati |
| Conference | Big 12 Conference American Athletic Conference (women's lacrosse) |
| NCAA | Division I (FBS) |
| Athletic director | John Cunningham |
| Location | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Varsity teams | 18 |
| Football stadium | Nippert Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Fifth Third Arena |
| Baseball stadium | UC Baseball Stadium |
| Other venues | Armory Fieldhouse, Heritage Bank Center |
| Mascot | Bearcat |
| Nickname | Bearcats |
| Fight song | "Cheer Cincinnati" |
| Colors | Red and black |
| Website | gobearcats |
In September 2021, Cincinnati received and accepted a membership offer to the Big 12 Conference. On June 10, 2022, they formally announced that they would join the conference on July 1, 2023.
The Bearcats were previously members of the Big East (2005-2013)/American Athletic Conference (2013-2022). Prior to that, they were in Conference USA, of which they were a founding member. The creation of Conference USA in 1995 was the result of a merger between the Great Midwest Conference (of which Cincinnati was a member) and the Metro Conference (whom Cincinnati had previously been a member). Other collegiate athletic conferences of which the school has been a member include the Missouri Valley Conference, 1957–1969; the Mid-American Conference, 1947–1952; the Buckeye Athletic Association, 1925–1935; and the Ohio Athletic Conference, 1910–1924.