[6] Favored Cincinnati took a 7–0 lead on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Chad Plummer to Cornelius Bonner.
Lendon Smith scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as Cincinnati took a 21–0 halftime lead.
Utah State got on the board with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Sauk to Steve Smith.
Cincinnati answered with a 7-yard Orlando Smith touchdown run making the score 35–7.
[5][7] † denotes College Football Playoff semifinal game