The Key for the week of November 10, 2025
Toe-d you so…
Joe Burrow and the doctors kept saying the quarterback would be back in action before the end of the season, and this week we saw QB1 in pads and a uniform for the first time since mid-September when he went out with turf toe. Being on the practice field and being in action are two different things, however, and while Joe B may have designs on returning in time for the Thanksgiving night matchup with Baltimore, Ben wonders if it is worth putting your franchise quarterback on the field if the Bengals are all-but-out of the division race by late November. The Bengals can score 41 points and lose, obviously, whether it’s Joe B or Joe F at the controls.
Next up: Miami
After kicking their in-state rivals and playoff nemesis Columbus out of the playoffs, FC Cincinnati now sets its sights on Miami and Leo Messi. Ironically, the global soccer superstar is 0-2-1 against the Orange and Blue, with no goals and two assists. The matches include a 3-3 draw in the U.S Open cup, which Miami won in penalties. The two meet again Sunday, November 23 in Cincinnati, and already the match is a hot ticket. Conference finals, for those planning ahead, are the weekend after Thanksgiving.
The Big XII just got a lot more interesting
The Cincinnati Bearcats’ surprising football run is getting more interesting by the day, with the Bearcats tied with one-loss BYU in the conference, and both just behind Texas Tech. UC plays host to Arizona and its 3-3 conference record on Saturday, but look ahead and you’ll see BYU coming to Nippert Stadium on November 22 for Senior Day. Depending on what Texas Tech does, and the Red Raiders have UCF and West Virginia ahead of them, the BYU game could be huge in determining who might represent the conference in the college football playoffs. Clifton could be looking at a chance at the CFP or, at the worst, a nice, warm bowl game if the season plays out in their favor.
Ben’s Best Bet
Speaking of the post season, it’s never too early to look at college football awards season. If you check out the BetMGM odds for the Heisman Trophy, right now Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin leads the pack, but right behind him is IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza. After Indiana’s dramatic come from behind win at Happy Valley this past weekend, Mendoza just may have the inside track. And if Ohio State somehow stumbles down the stretch (hello, Michigan), IU may have its first Heisman ever to display in its trophy case.