Cincinnati’s 34-23 win against Miami puts the AAC on the right path

Cincinnati wide receiver Mekale McKay (2) celebrates a touchdown against Miami during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers) Cincinnati’s 34-23 was not only the Bearcats first win against the Hurricanes since 1947, snapping an 11-game losing streak, it also might be the start of a renaissance for the American Athletic Conference — a conference that’s trying to get back into the good graces of the Power 5 Conferences that left it behind during expansion.

The AAC has a litany of games against Power 5 conferences this month and other contests against Notre Dame and BYU. It’s the AAC’s opportunity to position itself as the crème of the Group of 5 crop and vie for a New Year’s Six bowl. The highest ranked Group of 5 team earns the right to play in the game. Boise State earned the spot last year.

And Cincinnati’s win over an undefeated Miami team was the perfect way for the AAC to start off its journey toward that achievement.

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Backup quarterback Hayden Moore, who was playing in relief of Gunner Kiel, who hadn’t been cleared by doctors after taking a nasty hit last week against Memphis, shined again by throwing for 279 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bearcats took a 27-20 lead at halftime and never relented.

It was the first non-Power 5 loss for Miami in the coach Al Golden era. The last non-Power 5 loss for the Hurricanes came against South Florida in 2010.

This Cincinnati win wasn’t exactly unexpected considering how well the AAC has played against Power 5 competition so far this season. AAC teams have already toppled the likes of Louisville, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Kansas.

While Cincinnati is 3-2 and likely out of the conversation for the New Years Six Bowl, there are several other AAC teams vying for the honor. Of the 28 remaining undefeated teams in the FBS, four are from the AAC: Memphis (4-0), Temple (3-0), Houston (3-0) and Navy (3-0).

No teams from the Group of 5 conferences were ranked in the polls this week, but with a schedule littered with big-name opponents in the coming month, the opportunity is there.

And Cincinnati just helped the conference take the first step in the right direction.