The road to the national championship for the Luke Fickell and the Cincinnati Bearcats ended on Friday, as they lost to the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide at the Cotton Bowl to the tune of a 27-6 score.

Despite the painful loss, Fickell was all class when he spoke to reporters following the game. Of course, he couldn't help getting passionate when talking about what his team went through and how he felt about the game altogether.

Via Robbie Weinstein of 247Sports.com:

“Obviously, this is gut-wrenching and really, really difficult for everybody, but most importantly for the 30 or so seniors that have brought this program and this team so far. Those guys have done everything. They've sacrificed. They've committed. It's really tough. We didn't get it done tonight, and we didn't play complementary football. We knew it was going to be a big deal, and I think that's kind of where the game is won. At no phase of it did we give ourselves the best opportunity. It's very difficult. It's difficult on these guys because they've worked so hard. They've committed so much. They've done everything we've asked them to do. We just were a bit short, obviously, tonight.”

The Bearcats earned a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals on the strength of a 13-0 record, which included wins against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Houston Cougars in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game.

But the Crimson Tide proved to be an absolutely different animal for the Bearcats, who couldn't get anything going on either side of the ball. Cincy had a top 11 offense and a top 10 defense in the regular season, but Alabama simply outplayed and dominated the Bearcats.

Nevertheless, Fickell can feel proud of what his team has accomplished this season, reaching a bowl game for the fourth consecutive year, and even getting as high as no. 2 overall rank in the AP Poll at one point.