The University of Cincinnati Bearcats (2-1), who in one defensive lapse last Saturday went from potential hot commodity all the way back to show-me status, have another chance today to determine which way their season is going to go.

        Are the Bearcats going to win and get their fans (and themselves) thinking about an 8-3 season or maybe even 9-2, or are they going to lose and be in a season-long fight for 6-5 and a lower-level bowl?

UC at INDIANA

• Kickoff: 2p.m. today, Memorial Stadium (52,345), Bloomington, Ind.   • Records: UC 2-1, IU 0-2.   • TV: None.   • Radio: WCKY-AM (1360)   • Series: IU leads 8-3-2.   • Line: Indiana by 5.   • What to watch: IU quarterback Antwaan Randle El is the most elusive college quarterback in America outside Blacksburg, Va. And it'll be interesting to watch strong-armed UC QB Deontey Kenner, who has had a way of upstaging bigger-name quarterbacks since his days at Hopkinsville (Ky.) High, when his team beat Tim Couch's.

        UC's coaches aren't placing today's game in that harsh of a light with the players — after all, seven games remainafter today, and six of them are conference games — but rest assured many football-starved fans in the Queen City are taking a hard look at the 'Cats.

        They are eager to jump aboard somebody's, anybody's, bandwagon.

        The Bearcats could have made huge strides in that department had they not let Wisconsin off the hook last week (a 28-25 loss in overtime). A victory could have landed the Bearcats in the Top 25. Now, only a long run of victories can accomplish that. But the Bearcats can keep alive the local buzz if they upset Indiana, led by its jitterbugging quarterback, Antwaan Randle El.

        IU is a five-point favorite, despite being 0-2. Both losses came in high-scoring games, vs. North Carolina State (41-38 in Bloomington) and Kentucky (41-34 in Lexington).

        The Bearcats have no choice but to build upon the passing game that improved considerably last week. Because if the Bearcats don't throw the ball well today, they won't win. Of course, the running game opens up the passing game. And former Indianapolis prep star Ray Jackson will have a great opportunity to show the home folks he made the right decision by transferring to UC from the University of Michigan after an injury.

        UC running back DeMarco McCleskey is listed as questionable for today's game (pulled left hamstring). Chuck Spencer is expected to pick up some of the running slack left by McCleskey.

        “Chuck is a combination of McCleskey and Jackson,” UC coach Rick Minter said. “He's a big strong kid, explosive. He's a little bit of a darter with pretty good speed. He's a good, quality, football player.”

        What about the passing game?

        “We've got to continue to find ways to get L.V. (split end LaDaris Vann) the ball,” Minter said. “A.C. (split end Antonio Chatman) stepped up several times against Wisconsin, and he and Bake (split end Jason Collins-Baker) have been carrying the load. (Wideouts) Tony Smikle and Tye Keith aren't (healthy).”

        Indiana is going to have to pay attention to Jackson as a potential receiver. He caught a soft pass in the middle vs. Wisconsin and took it in for a touchdown; he made a similar reception two weeks ago against No.25 Syracuse that set up the winning field goal.

        But the Bearcats still aren't holding on to enough catchable balls. Last week, they dropped two would-be touchdown passes.

        “We've got to make plays,” Minter said. “I'm very proud of the way our defense is playing. ... It's a team game.”

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