Another year is almost in the books and for fans of Cincinnati sports teams, 2025 represented a bit of a mixed bag.On the one hand, the Reds and FC Cincinnati each made playoff runs while offering hope for a bright future in the coming seasons.On the other hand, the Bengals have struggled to string together wins in 2025 and won’t be in the playoffs for the third straight season, due in part to an injury suffered by their franchise player.On the college level, the Xavier Musketeers men’s basketball team made a run to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years but then lost their head coach to the team they beat in that tournament.To be a Cincinnati sports fan is to live with the good, the bad and the ugly, and 2025 brought each of those moments. Below is a look at some of the stories that defined Cincinnati teams in the last year.Injury Takes Burrow OutNo development in Cincinnati sports was felt more this season than when the Bengals’ franchise quarterback went down with a toe injury in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Burrow suffered a severe case of turf toe, and while the Bengals did start the season 2-0, the team quickly fell off without their star player.After three games with Jake Browning as the starter (all losses), the Bengals turned to Joe Flacco to keep the offense afloat. While the team scored points, the results remained the same, with the Bengals at 3-8 by the time Burrow returned to the field on Thanksgiving night against the Baltimore Ravens.Burrow’s injury derailed what was a promising season for the Bengals and shined a brighter light on a defense that ended up one of the league’s worst as the season progressed.Burrow has since returned to the field to mixed results. A thrilling win over the Ravens on Thanksgiving was followed by losses to the Buffalo Bills and Ravens, officially ending the Bengals’ hopes of a late season playoff run.Reds Surge to PlayoffsThe Reds’ odds of making the playoffs dipped below 10 percent late in September, but the team was able to rally in the final week to take advantage of losses by the New York Mets and grab the final National League Wild Card spot.With two losses in a row to the Pirates in their final home series of the year, things looked bleak for the Reds, but three straight wins were enough to lock in Cincinnati’s Wild Card spot at 83 victories, setting up a matchup with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.Things didn’t go well for the Reds in a short two-game series at Dodger Stadium, with Los Angeles scoring 18 runs in a two-game sweep.While the Reds didn’t end the season as World Series champions, the playoff appearance marked their first in a full season since 2013, lending hope that a young team can build on that momentum going into 2026 and beyond.Shortstop Elly De La Cruz made his second straight All-Star team (22 home runs, 37 stolen bases, .777 OPS), starting pitcher Andrew Abbott joined him on the NL squad (2.87 ERA in 29 starts) and ace Hunter Greene showed flashes of being one of the best pitchers in the NL at full strength.Reds pitchers finished seventh in the NL in ERA (3.86) and strikeouts (1,380) and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio.FCC Marches Back to PlayoffsIt was a season of change for FC Cincinnati in 2025, beginning with the trade of former MVP Luciano Acosta to Dallas in February.With a revamped roster built around talented scorers Evander and Kevin Denkey, FC Cincinnati continued to field one of the most consistent clubs in Major League Soccer.The Orange and Blue won 20 matches, earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the MLS quarterfinal round in the playoffs before losing to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.Evander and Denkey announced themselves as stars in MLS for years to come, totaling 33 goals and 17 assists. Evander and defender Miles Robinson represented Cincinnati at the MLS All Star Game.The 2025 season brought several winning streaks with it for FC Cincinnati, including a five-match winning streak from late March to late April. The Orange and Blue also didn’t drop a match from Aug. 31 until Nov. 2.Chase, Higgins Ink Record DealsMany Bengals fans were optimistic entering the offseason that the team would be able to ink long-term extensions with star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.It’s likely that few expected that the deals would be announced at the same time, however.On the night of March 16, reports indicated that the Bengals had agreed to multi-year deals with Chase and Higgins, with the team confirming the news in the following days.Chase and Higgins then held a joint press conference after the two signed deals that will pay them $276 million combined through 2029.Chase has earned four Pro Bowl nods so far and is trending toward a fifth appearance in 2025. The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year has caught at least 100 passes in each of the last three seasons, caught more than 50 touchdowns in his career and is the unquestioned top weapon for quarterback Joe Burrow, week in and week out.Higgins has been forced to battle more injuries than Chase but has been a major weapon for Burrow when he has been on the field.Drafted one round after Burrow in 2020, Higgins has hauled in over 40 career touchdowns, crossed the 1,000-yard mark twice in a season and has brought in more than 375 catches over the course of his career.Chase’s $161 million deal with the Bengals runs through 2029, while Higgins’ $115 million contract will make him a free agent after the 2028 season.The question now: Can these two stars lead the Bengals back to the Super Bowl before their lucrative extensions are done?Xavier’s NCAA Tournament RunA slow start to the 2024-25 season for the Xavier Musketeers made an NCAA Tournament appearance look unlikely, but things took a turn for the better once mid-January rolled around.From Jan. 11 on, the Musketeers lost just three regular season games, with a fourth loss to Marquette in the Big East Tournament.In the end, Xavier’s 21-11 record was enough to make the field, in the eyes of the selection committee, with the Musketeers matched up with Texas in the First Four.Marcus Foster’s 22 points and Zach Freemantle’s 15 points were enough to lead Xavier past the Longhorns, setting up a Round of 68 matchup with No. 6-seed Illinois, which Xavier lost, 86-73.Freemantle led the Musketeers in scoring with 16.8 points per game on the season, while guard Ryan Conwell poured in 16.5 points per game.After the season, Xavier head coach Sean Miller decided to take the head coaching job at Texas (less than a week after beating them in the Big Dance.) The Musketeers then hired Richard Pitino as head coach, who is in his first season at the helm.Bearcats win 7 straight before falteringCincinnati Bearcats head football coach Scott Satterfield needed a solid season in his third year in charge and in some ways, that happened.After losing the season opener to Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium, the Bearcats rolled to seven straight wins, including five in conference play.In October, the Bearcats earned their first Associated Press Top 25 ranking under Satterfield and eventually rose as high as No. 17 before dropping their final four games against Big 12 opponents.The Bearcats finished the season 7-5 and earned an invitation to the Liberty Bowl against Navy on Jan. 2.Quarterback Brendan Sorsby threw 27 touchdown passes to only five interceptions in 2025, becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the conference. He announced his intention to transfer from Cincinnati and will not play in the bowl game.Rose Becomes HOF EligibleLess than a year after his death in September 2024, Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose was removed from baseball’s ineligible list, making him eligible to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.MLB commissioner Rob Manfred posthumously removed Rose from the permanent ineligible list in May.Rose will be eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot in 2027.A member of Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, Rose is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215).Rose was banned from baseball as a result of an investigation into sports betting by Rose while he played with the Reds. He remained one of the most popular Reds players of all-time leading up to his death at 83.Blitz 5 SuccessThe Greater Cincinnati area consistently fields some of the best high school football teams in the region and that was the case again this season.The Blitz 5 season was filled with highlight-reel plays and compelling games in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.In Ohio, Anderson and St. Xavier rode incredible seasons to Canton and appearances in their division’s state championship games.Unfortunately for both schools, neither team was able to pull off a championship win, but their seasons surely won’t be forgotten.In Kentucky, Lloyd Memorial, Ryle and Beechwood all made it to the semifinal round before suffering tough losses. Milan High School in Indiana also made it to the semifinal round but lost to South Putnam.

CINCINNATI —

Another year is almost in the books and for fans of Cincinnati sports teams, 2025 represented a bit of a mixed bag.

On the one hand, the Reds and FC Cincinnati each made playoff runs while offering hope for a bright future in the coming seasons.

On the other hand, the Bengals have struggled to string together wins in 2025 and won’t be in the playoffs for the third straight season, due in part to an injury suffered by their franchise player.

On the college level, the Xavier Musketeers men’s basketball team made a run to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years but then lost their head coach to the team they beat in that tournament.

To be a Cincinnati sports fan is to live with the good, the bad and the ugly, and 2025 brought each of those moments. Below is a look at some of the stories that defined Cincinnati teams in the last year.

Injury Takes Burrow Out

No development in Cincinnati sports was felt more this season than when the Bengals’ franchise quarterback went down with a toe injury in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Burrow suffered a severe case of turf toe, and while the Bengals did start the season 2-0, the team quickly fell off without their star player.

After three games with Jake Browning as the starter (all losses), the Bengals turned to Joe Flacco to keep the offense afloat. While the team scored points, the results remained the same, with the Bengals at 3-8 by the time Burrow returned to the field on Thanksgiving night against the Baltimore Ravens.

Burrow’s injury derailed what was a promising season for the Bengals and shined a brighter light on a defense that ended up one of the league’s worst as the season progressed.

Burrow has since returned to the field to mixed results. A thrilling win over the Ravens on Thanksgiving was followed by losses to the Buffalo Bills and Ravens, officially ending the Bengals’ hopes of a late season playoff run.

Reds Surge to Playoffs

The Reds’ odds of making the playoffs dipped below 10 percent late in September, but the team was able to rally in the final week to take advantage of losses by the New York Mets and grab the final National League Wild Card spot.

With two losses in a row to the Pirates in their final home series of the year, things looked bleak for the Reds, but three straight wins were enough to lock in Cincinnati’s Wild Card spot at 83 victories, setting up a matchup with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Things didn’t go well for the Reds in a short two-game series at Dodger Stadium, with Los Angeles scoring 18 runs in a two-game sweep.

While the Reds didn’t end the season as World Series champions, the playoff appearance marked their first in a full season since 2013, lending hope that a young team can build on that momentum going into 2026 and beyond.

Shortstop Elly De La Cruz made his second straight All-Star team (22 home runs, 37 stolen bases, .777 OPS), starting pitcher Andrew Abbott joined him on the NL squad (2.87 ERA in 29 starts) and ace Hunter Greene showed flashes of being one of the best pitchers in the NL at full strength.

Reds pitchers finished seventh in the NL in ERA (3.86) and strikeouts (1,380) and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio.

FCC Marches Back to Playoffs

It was a season of change for FC Cincinnati in 2025, beginning with the trade of former MVP Luciano Acosta to Dallas in February.

With a revamped roster built around talented scorers Evander and Kevin Denkey, FC Cincinnati continued to field one of the most consistent clubs in Major League Soccer.

The Orange and Blue won 20 matches, earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the MLS quarterfinal round in the playoffs before losing to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.

Evander and Denkey announced themselves as stars in MLS for years to come, totaling 33 goals and 17 assists. Evander and defender Miles Robinson represented Cincinnati at the MLS All Star Game.

The 2025 season brought several winning streaks with it for FC Cincinnati, including a five-match winning streak from late March to late April. The Orange and Blue also didn’t drop a match from Aug. 31 until Nov. 2.

Chase, Higgins Ink Record Deals

Many Bengals fans were optimistic entering the offseason that the team would be able to ink long-term extensions with star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

It’s likely that few expected that the deals would be announced at the same time, however.

On the night of March 16, reports indicated that the Bengals had agreed to multi-year deals with Chase and Higgins, with the team confirming the news in the following days.

Chase and Higgins then held a joint press conference after the two signed deals that will pay them $276 million combined through 2029.

Chase has earned four Pro Bowl nods so far and is trending toward a fifth appearance in 2025. The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year has caught at least 100 passes in each of the last three seasons, caught more than 50 touchdowns in his career and is the unquestioned top weapon for quarterback Joe Burrow, week in and week out.

Higgins has been forced to battle more injuries than Chase but has been a major weapon for Burrow when he has been on the field.

Drafted one round after Burrow in 2020, Higgins has hauled in over 40 career touchdowns, crossed the 1,000-yard mark twice in a season and has brought in more than 375 catches over the course of his career.

Chase’s $161 million deal with the Bengals runs through 2029, while Higgins’ $115 million contract will make him a free agent after the 2028 season.

The question now: Can these two stars lead the Bengals back to the Super Bowl before their lucrative extensions are done?

Xavier’s NCAA Tournament Run

A slow start to the 2024-25 season for the Xavier Musketeers made an NCAA Tournament appearance look unlikely, but things took a turn for the better once mid-January rolled around.

From Jan. 11 on, the Musketeers lost just three regular season games, with a fourth loss to Marquette in the Big East Tournament.

In the end, Xavier’s 21-11 record was enough to make the field, in the eyes of the selection committee, with the Musketeers matched up with Texas in the First Four.

Marcus Foster’s 22 points and Zach Freemantle’s 15 points were enough to lead Xavier past the Longhorns, setting up a Round of 68 matchup with No. 6-seed Illinois, which Xavier lost, 86-73.

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Freemantle led the Musketeers in scoring with 16.8 points per game on the season, while guard Ryan Conwell poured in 16.5 points per game.

After the season, Xavier head coach Sean Miller decided to take the head coaching job at Texas (less than a week after beating them in the Big Dance.) The Musketeers then hired Richard Pitino as head coach, who is in his first season at the helm.

Bearcats win 7 straight before faltering

Cincinnati Bearcats head football coach Scott Satterfield needed a solid season in his third year in charge and in some ways, that happened.

After losing the season opener to Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium, the Bearcats rolled to seven straight wins, including five in conference play.

In October, the Bearcats earned their first Associated Press Top 25 ranking under Satterfield and eventually rose as high as No. 17 before dropping their final four games against Big 12 opponents.

The Bearcats finished the season 7-5 and earned an invitation to the Liberty Bowl against Navy on Jan. 2.

Quarterback Brendan Sorsby threw 27 touchdown passes to only five interceptions in 2025, becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the conference. He announced his intention to transfer from Cincinnati and will not play in the bowl game.

Rose Becomes HOF Eligible

Less than a year after his death in September 2024, Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose was removed from baseball’s ineligible list, making him eligible to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred posthumously removed Rose from the permanent ineligible list in May.

Rose will be eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot in 2027.

A member of Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, Rose is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215).

Rose was banned from baseball as a result of an investigation into sports betting by Rose while he played with the Reds. He remained one of the most popular Reds players of all-time leading up to his death at 83.

Blitz 5 Success

The Greater Cincinnati area consistently fields some of the best high school football teams in the region and that was the case again this season.

The Blitz 5 season was filled with highlight-reel plays and compelling games in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

In Ohio, Anderson and St. Xavier rode incredible seasons to Canton and appearances in their division’s state championship games.

Unfortunately for both schools, neither team was able to pull off a championship win, but their seasons surely won’t be forgotten.

In Kentucky, Lloyd Memorial, Ryle and Beechwood all made it to the semifinal round before suffering tough losses. Milan High School in Indiana also made it to the semifinal round but lost to South Putnam.