Well they avoided what most likely would have been the same treatment their big brother has gotten in the playoff. Cincy will likely get smashed, but they planted a flag for future GO5 teams like San Diego State, Tulane, SMU, Florida Atlantic, UAB, Tulsa , Northern Illinois, Toledo or any other borderline team to follow.
Utah, TCU, Houston, UCF, Cincy, BYU all are gonna be at the table( Utah and TCU already are). Memphis, Boise and USF are likely next. But Cincy just making the thing is a major win for that next group to aspire to. Semifinal games are almost always terrible anyhow, so even if Cincy loses big it isn't a major loss for them. It's ironic that the year they found out that they will soon get the elevation they have been looking for, is the same year they will be carrying the flag for a group that they are leaving behind.
I was hoping for a Bama loss and Oklahoma State win because I wanted to see three new teams freshen up the invitational. I don't want to see an all SEC championship ( I'm a Gator fan saying that). But in all reality that is what we are going to see imo. This is your new league, but I really can't stand the we are SEC!!! Congrats on your new coach. See you in two years(likely).