No. 2 Cincinnati Bearcats held off Tulsa Golden Hurricane 28-20 on Saturday to extend their home winning streak to 25 games, which is the second-longest record in the country. Starring for the Bearcats was Desmond Ridder, who threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Alec Peirce chipped in with five catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.

Tulsa (3-6, 2-3) got 132 yards from Shamari Brooks and 105 yards from Anthony Watkins on the ground.

Tulsa seemed to be on the verge of running out the clock when they were stopped short on fourth down at the 4. Ridder, on the other hand, bungled a sneak, allowing the Golden Hurricane to live.

Steven Anderson fumbled while reaching for the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the 1, and Jabari Taylor recovered for a touchback.

Last season, the Bearcats won the AAC title game 27-24 on a last-second field goal.

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When Ridder and Jerome Ford scored running touchdowns to put the Bearcats up 14-0 on Saturday, it didn’t appear that the game would be that close.

In the second quarter, the Bearcats had a tough series, with Ridder being sacked twice and leading rusher Jerome Ford being carried off with an apparent left leg injury. He didn’t show up.

Tulsa’s 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive late in the first half was finished by Brooks’ 8-yard touchdown run, cutting the Bearcats’ advantage to 14-9, but the point-after attempt was missed.

Tulsa trailed 14-12 at halftime after Zack Long hit on a 50-yard field goal. The Bearcats lead 14-12 at halftime for the second week in a row.

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In the first quarter, Cincinnati outgained Tulsa 165-36, but was outgained 120-66 in the second.

To go up 28-12, Ridder and the Bearcats answered with touchdown throws to Pierce and Michael Young Jr.

Tulsa, on the other hand, were not yet done.

With eight minutes left, Davis Brin threw a 21-yard touchdown throw to JuanCarlos Santana and added the 2-point convert, bringing the Golden Hurricane to 28-20.

WIth inputs from the Associated Press