The Reds hit a rough patch in Pittsburgh, Bengals rookie minicamp brings football back to Paycor, Kentucky Derby history raises Preakness questions, and Ben eyes the Fever as a WNBA futures play.

The Reds sit atop a tightly packed NL Central as a critical road stretch against Pittsburgh and Chicago approaches, with Chase Burns dealing and reinforcements like Nick Lodolo nearing a return. Derby weekend brings its own intrigue as rail-drawn favorite Renegade faces long odds history. Off the field, questions swirl around former UC quarterback Brendan Sorsby and potential NCAA scrutiny. Plus, Chad Tracy steps into Boston’s top job and Luke Kennard delivers postseason production in Los Angeles.

A bold Bengals trade reshapes the defense, the Reds grind out wins while waiting on their aces, and early NBA playoff angles start to take shape. Here’s the latest across Cincinnati and beyond.

A week that snapped momentum in Cincinnati, a record-setting WNBA draft, FC Cincinnati searching for answers, and a futures bet worth a closer look.

College sports just shifted its balance of power. The Big Ten stacks titles and revenue, Augusta takes center stage with a loaded Masters field, and a young arm in Cincinnati is forcing his way into the Reds’ plans. Add in a strong betting angle at Augusta, and the week delivers movement across every level of the game.

Opening Day in Cincinnati is part baseball, part citywide tradition, and fully its own event. This week’s The Key looks at why Reds Opening Day still feels like a holiday, how early injuries are already reshaping the Reds’ pitching plans, what UC’s coaching hire means for the Bearcats, and why Duke remains Ben’s pick to cut down the nets.

March Madness has Ben talking brackets, 12-5 upsets, and whether Miami earned a place in the field of 68. This week’s Key also checks in on the Reds’ shaky rotation picture ahead of Opening Day and reflects on the life and legacy of Lou Holtz.

NFL legal tampering delivered chaos, the Reds are bracing for another Hunter Greene injury setback, Cincinnati’s season-ending collapse leaves Wes Miller’s future in question, and Ben’s latest betting angle looks to the World Baseball Classic with the Dominican Republic and Team USA in focus.

The Key breaks down a big week across sports: the Bengals head into a high-stakes NFL Combine with the 10th pick and trade chatter, the Reds settle into a steady second week in Goodyear with key bats flashing early, and the Milano Cortina Olympics deliver massive NBC viewership. Plus, Ben’s best bet as conference tournaments approach.

A big week in Cincinnati sports: Reds spring training is underway with Terry Francona setting a sharper tone, FC Cincinnati jumps straight into a packed early 2026 schedule, and the Bengals face key calendar pressure with Trey Hendrickson as the franchise tag window opens. Plus, a film nod to Robert Duvall’s unforgettable turn in The Natural.

Miami University enters the week of February 9, 2026 as the last undefeated team in Division I men’s basketball, with a prime time test vs. Ohio at Millett Hall. Meanwhile, Reds spring training ramps up in Goodyear and the post Super Bowl spotlight lands on Seattle’s defense, plus a March Madness lookahead with Duke’s Cameron Boozer in Ben’s Best Bet

Winter is hanging on, but the sports calendar is heating up as Reds pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear and football closes with a prop bet filled Super Bowl matchup. With UC, Xavier, and the Winter Olympics all hitting critical moments, February is stacked with storylines that matter across every level of sports.

Winter weather made its presence felt across the sports landscape, but most of the weekend slate pushed through. Snow, wind, and poor visibility turned the Denver–New England Conference Championship into a grind, while quarterback storylines in Minnesota and a wide-open Super Bowl matchup added intrigue. And with baseball around the corner, Reds fans finally have something warm to look forward to.

Indiana sports wrote the script of the year. Indiana University football captured a national championship under Coach Curt Cignetti and now holds a story fit for the big screen. Meanwhile, Buffalo shook up the NFL by parting ways with Sean McDermott despite his winning record and postseason consistency. In the MAC, Miami continues its undefeated run and now sits at number 25 in the national rankings. Looking ahead to spring, baseball futures favor the Los Angeles Dodgers with early distance over the Yankees, Mariners, Phillies, and Blue Jays. Ben breaks down why value plays may take time to emerge as odds settle.

In this week’s edition of The Key: The AFC North is officially out of the Super Bowl chase following the Steelers' Wild Card loss. Plus, baseball fever returns as Redsfest takes over the newly renovated convention center with stars like Elly De La Cruz and Barry Larkin. Finally, Ben’s Best Bets breaks down the favorites to win the Australian Open tennis tournament.

College football opens the new year with an unexpected Final Four featuring Ole Miss, Miami, Oregon and undefeated Indiana, while fan interest hits new highs. The NFL story is far less novel for Cincinnati as the Bengals stay the course in their front office decisions, prompting pushback from fans and comparison to Baltimore’s willingness to move on from John Harbaugh. Looking ahead to the postseason, the lack of Patrick Mahomes creates a new betting landscape with BetMGM making Seattle the favorite, followed closely by the Rams in the NFC and Denver in the AFC, with Buffalo and New England in contention. Expect strong viewership and strong opinions in both leagues.

It's all about the money. The Bengals' high-paid offense struggles, the Reds miss out on Kyle Schwarber, and UC quarterback Brendan Sorsby eyes a big payday in the transfer portal. Plus, Ben's best bet for the NFL playoffs.

With the Bengals' playoff hopes all but gone and Trey Hendrickson out, focus shifts to the future. Meanwhile, the Reds miss out on a Kyle Schwarber reunion, major college programs opt out of Bowl Season, and Ben predicts a historic Heisman trophy for the Indiana Hoosiers.

The Bengals are mathematically alive (barely), Redsfest has a new January date, and the Crosstown Shootout returns to the Cintas Center where UC faces a 24-year curse. Plus, we say a final goodbye to a beloved local broadcasting engineer.

A Thanksgiving miracle or a risky return? All signs point to Joe Burrow starting against Baltimore this Thursday, but with the playoffs largely out of reach, is it the right move? We break down the QB drama, recap a heartbreaking weekend for Cincinnati sports fans (from UC to FC Cincy), and preview the massive showdown between Ohio State and Michigan in Ann Arbor.