100 Years of Homecoming, ‘Onward to Victory’

This month we’re proud to celebrate 100 years of UC Homecoming. While UC’s institutional reputation is largely built on innovation, we are also the home of many wonderful traditions, and Homecoming may be our greatest.  

Throughout Homecoming weekend, Oct. 22-24, a variety of activities, reunions and connections will engage the full university community. From college and affinity-group gatherings to fun tailgates large and small, the weekend offers countless ways to reconnect, including the simple joy of lifelong UC friends getting back together, many with growing families of future Bearcats in tow.  

Our theme is “Onward to Victory,” a familiar line from the UC Fight Song. It’s fitting because we’ll cheer on our football team against Texas Tech in historic Nippert Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, after watching the Homecoming parade down Clifton Avenue before the game and celebrating the Friday night induction of a special class of former student-athletes into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame. These outstanding Bearcats represent a proud legacy of excellence, having led their teams onward to so many victories throughout their storied careers. Yet the theme also speaks to our overall momentum, reflected in how UC prepares students for professional success and how the remarkable achievements of our alumni continue to elevate our alma mater.  

I look forward to joining you during this commemorative weekend with fellow alumni proudly decked out in red and black, reconnecting with college friends, and celebrating a treasured tradition we all share.  

A half century of changing lives will be honored at the Darwin T. Turner 50th Anniversary Celebration on Nov. 6 at Cincinnati Music Hall. Opportunities to support the event are still available.

Bearcat great Jason Kelce, Bus ’10, returned to campus for the UC Football opener last month, then took to his “New Heights” podcast to describe his reaction to his alma mater’s continuing momentum.

Upcoming college events will celebrate alumni excellence: College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Distinguished Alumni Awards on Oct. 15, the Winkle College of Pharmacy’s Distinguished Alumni Awards on Oct. 23, and the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Alumni Awards Dinner on Nov. 19.

Fans may have noticed a small but important addition to the Bearcats’ uniforms. New jersey patches for football and men’s basketball reflect a new partnership between UC Athletics and the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family.

The UC Young Professionals group helps recent graduates with professional networking, career development, and volunteer opportunities. Young alumni can learn more Oct. 15 at Braxton Factory 52 in Norwood.

The historic YMCA building on Calhoun will be transformed into a student-centered hub focused on engagement, community and well-being. “The Why” is scheduled to open by next fall.

The African American Alumni Affiliate (4A) will host an Oct. 23 Homecoming edition of Chats With ’Cats, where a vibrant program will help alumni catch up with what’s happening on campus.

Alumni are invited to enter for a chance to win a pair of 2026-27 men's basketball season tickets, courtesy of the UC Alumni Association and Ohio 529, CollegeAdvantage. Entries must be submitted by Sunday, Oct. 25.

The latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings show UC at No. 3 nationally for co-ops and internships, and No. 1 among public universities. It’s our eighth straight year of Top 5 rankings.

Many alumni, including Cincinnati residents and those returning for Homecoming, will gather Oct. 22 at Vintage on Race for “Bearcats in the City,” an evening of conversation and UC spirit.

As a first-generation college student, Penny Wills, CECH ’74, knows she missed out on the benefits of studying abroad. That’s why she and her husband, Ron, created the Wills Family Study Abroad Scholarship for today’s first-gen Bearcats.