Tom Groeschen

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Indiana has scheduled a home-and-home football series against Cincinnati for 2021 and 2022, Bearcats athletic director Mike Bohn announced Wednesday afternoon.

“This is an important regional contest, and represents our continued emphasis on quality opponents for our fans to enjoy in our upcoming Nippert Stadium future,” Bohn said.

Indiana hosts Cincinnati on Sept. 18, 2021 and the Hoosiers will visit Cincinnati on Sept. 24, 2022.

Cincinnati sources also said that the Bearcats are discussing future non-league games with Louisville, Kentucky and Pittsburgh.

“It's hard for us to get a home and home,” coach Tommy Tuberville said. “We’re still talking with a lot of people. You’ve got to really work at scheduling, especially a school like Cincinnati that’s been so successful. It’s so hard to get people to come play you — even get a game on the road.”

Cincinnati is 3-9-2 lifetime against Indiana. The last meeting was in 2000, a 42-6 Indiana win at IU.

Indiana is the most recent marquee opponent Cincinnati has added to its future schedules list, which also includes home-and-home series with Boise State (2019 & 2020) and Nebraska (2020 & 2025).

A longtime conference rival of ACC-bound U of L, Cincinnati doesn’t have the Cardinals on this season’s schedule for the first time since 1995. After last season’s U of L road win, the Keg of Nails rivalry trophy rests in Louisville.

UK last played Cincinnati in 1996.