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From the roar of the Dawg Pound to the crack of the bat in Cincinnati, Ohio’s sports scene hasn’t taken a breath this summer. In the weeks since our last recap, trades have reshaped rosters, preseason battles have intensified, and a few young stars have made their mark on the big stage. Whether it’s the Guardians pushing toward the AL Central crown, the Reds reloading for a playoff run, or the Browns and Bengals trying to solve their quarterback questions before September, the Buckeye State has delivered no shortage of storylines.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians entered August hovering around the .500 mark but surged into second place in the AL Central after taking two of three from Minnesota to open the month. The trade deadline saw Cleveland retool its roster — sending former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber to Toronto and reliever Paul Sewald to Detroit — while deciding to keep All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan despite heavy interest.
Kwan, along with José Ramírez, has kept the offense steady, even hitting his 10th homer on Aug. 13 in a loss to Miami that snapped the team’s win streak. As of Aug. 14, Cleveland sits at 62–57, just 6.5 games behind first-place Detroit, with the division still within reach.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds remain right in the thick of the National League playoff race, sitting just one game out of a Wild Card spot. At the deadline, Cincinnati went all-in — adding third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from Pittsburgh, starter Zack Littell from Tampa Bay, and slugger Miguel Andújar from Oakland.
The moves paid immediate dividends. Hayes homered in his Reds debut, sparking an eight-run rally, while Andújar launched his first home run for Cincinnati in a 14–8 win over Pittsburgh. The Reds went 7–5 during this stretch and now stand at 64–58, pushing for their first full-season playoff berth since 2013.
Cleveland Browns
Training camp in Berea has been dominated by the quarterback battle. With Deshaun Watson still rehabbing from last year’s Achilles tear, the Browns are evaluating veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco alongside rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders made his case in the Aug. 8 preseason opener, throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30–10 win over Carolina. The defense impressed as well, blanking the Panthers after the first quarter. The Browns are looking to bounce back from a 3–14 season and are hoping to settle their QB competition before the preseason wraps.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have locked in their offensive core, signing Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to extensions, and getting a healthy Joe Burrow back under center. Defensive star Trey Hendrickson ended his brief holdout without a new deal, reporting to camp to avoid distractions.
In their Aug. 7 preseason opener against the Eagles, Burrow looked sharp, tossing two touchdown passes in just 15 snaps, including a 38-yard strike to Chase. While the Bengals ultimately lost 34–27, the first-team offense appeared ready for the season. The focus now shifts to fixing a defense that struggled last year under a new coordinator.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State begins the season ranked No. 2 in the preseason Coaches Poll, just behind Texas — their opponent in a massive Week 1 showdown at the Horseshoe on Aug. 30.
The Buckeyes’ biggest preseason storyline is the quarterback battle between sophomore Lincoln Kienholz and freshman Julian Sayin. Both have impressed in camp, and Coach Ryan Day hopes to name a starter by mid-August. With elite talent returning on both sides of the ball, Ohio State enters 2025 with championship aspirations.
Columbus Crew
The Crew’s Leagues Cup title defense ended in heartbreak. After a draw with Toluca and wins over Puebla and León in group play, Columbus was eliminated on tiebreakers despite finishing with seven points.
Max Arfsten’s curling game-winner against León and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte’s clutch late save highlighted the campaign. With Leagues Cup over, the Crew return to MLS play in a strong playoff position.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati’s Leagues Cup run ended with a 2–1 loss to Chivas Guadalajara, but it produced a bright spot — 18-year-old Andrés Dávila scored on his first-team debut, becoming the youngest goalscorer in club history.
FCC remains one of the top teams in MLS and will now focus on chasing the Supporters’ Shield as regular-season play resumes.
WNBA and Other Ohio Sports
Ohio native and former Buckeye Kelsey Mitchell earned her third straight WNBA All-Star selection, continuing to shine as one of the league’s premier guards. Former Buckeye Jantel Lavender announced her retirement after a decorated 13-year career.
Elsewhere, Cleveland’s Rose Lavelle made headlines for giving back to youth soccer, and Jack Nicklaus hosted the inaugural Legends Invitational at Muirfield Village, bringing past golf greats together for charity.
With fall just around the corner, Ohio’s sports spotlight is about to burn even brighter. Baseball’s postseason races are heating up, NFL rosters are locking in, and college football’s opening weekend promises to be one for the ages. If the past few weeks are any indication, fans from Cleveland to Cincinnati — and everywhere in between — are in for a wild ride. And as always, we’ll be here to break it all down, one headline at a time.
