by Jordan Black, Senior Sports Writer | FreeWire — Your News, Your Voice.
As summer officially kicks in, Ohio’s sports landscape keeps grinding forward — some teams searching for stability, others building momentum, and a few simply hoping the right break arrives before the fall. Here’s everything that mattered across the Buckeye state this week.
Guardians: Grand Slam Lift, but Consistency Lacking
The Guardians began the week by finally showing some life in the Ohio Cup, routing the Reds 11-2 behind a grand slam from Carlos Santana. It was the lone bright spot after being thoroughly outplayed by Cincinnati in the earlier matchups.
That high didn’t last long. A tough road trip followed, with Cleveland getting swept in Seattle, capped off by a walk-off 4-3 loss and a 6-0 shutout. The bats again went quiet, a frustrating pattern that’s haunted the Guardians all season. They’re good enough to hang around in games, but not consistent enough to put teams away.
Cleveland bounced back mid-week, stealing a 3-2 win over San Francisco thanks to a clutch late home run by Gabriel Arias. Closer Emmanuel Clase, as usual, made things interesting before shutting the door. The Guardians sit just above .500, close enough to stay relevant in the AL Central, but with real questions about whether this team can string together a sustained run. The division is still wide open — if they can stabilize the offense, they’ll be in the mix well into September.
Browns: Quarterback Carousel Spins On
The Browns wrapped up mandatory minicamp with four quarterbacks still in the mix and no one separating from the pack. Joe Flacco handled himself like the seasoned veteran, but rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders both had moments that turned heads — with Sanders in particular flashing deep-ball accuracy that caught attention.
Kenny Pickett, acquired earlier this year, remains right in the thick of it. By design, the coaching staff is rotating reps and forcing the competition to play itself out organically. That will carry into training camp, where every throw, read, and mistake will be heavily scrutinized.
Complicating all of this is Deshaun Watson’s absence as he continues rehabbing from multiple Achilles injuries. The Browns are publicly optimistic about his long-term recovery, but privately, they’re preparing for the very real possibility that Watson may miss the full 2025 season. It’s created one of the most wide-open quarterback competitions in the league, and one that could shape not just this year, but the franchise’s direction going forward.
The quarterback battle isn’t the only change. Nick Chubb’s departure leaves a massive hole in the backfield. The Browns will now lean on Jerome Ford and rookie Quinshon Judkins to shoulder the load. Meanwhile, first-round pick Mason Graham is already making his presence felt on the defensive line, giving the Browns some early optimism about their run defense taking another step forward.
Bengals: Starting Fast Becomes The Priority
In Cincinnati, the Bengals wrapped up minicamp with a clear message: they’re tired of slow starts. After back-to-back seasons where early-season stumbles cost them playoff position, coach Zac Taylor is switching up the preseason formula. Training camp will move to morning practices, hoping to jolt players into starting fast — both in camp and in September.
Joe Burrow is fully healthy and, by all accounts, sharper than ever. He’ll enter this season with arguably the best receiving corps in football still intact, after Tee Higgins was locked up on a new deal alongside Ja’Marr Chase. The offensive line returns mostly intact, with only one starting spot at right guard still unsettled heading into camp.
On defense, new coordinator Al Golden has taken over for Lou Anarumo and is focusing heavily on fundamentals after some veteran departures. Young defenders like Joseph Ossai, Cam Sample, and rookie Kris Jenkins have turned heads early. While most still expect the Bengals offense to carry the weight, a faster, more disciplined defense could quietly make Cincinnati one of the most balanced teams in the AFC again.
There’s no mistaking the urgency around this team — the championship window is still open, but they know it won’t stay that way forever.
Ohio State: Stockpiling Talent, Staying the Course
The Buckeyes are officially in summer mode — which means recruiting season. Ryan Day and his staff continue to stack future classes, landing another key commitment this week from California defensive lineman Khary Wilder. With multiple elite prospects scheduled to announce in the coming weeks, Ohio State remains firmly in the race for a top-three 2026 class.
Off the field, Ohio State athletes made noise at the NCAA Track & Field Championships, where sprinter Leah Bertrand earned All-American honors with fourth-place finishes in both the 100 and 200-meter finals. Janela Spencer added another All-American nod in the 100-meter hurdles. No national titles this time, but plenty of hardware and momentum for one of the nation’s strongest sprint programs.
The football team, meanwhile, is quietly grinding through strength and conditioning work. Fall camp will bring bigger questions — particularly at quarterback — but for now, Ohio State remains steady, confident, and deep as it heads into what’s expected to be another playoff run.
Cincinnati Bearcats: Rebuilding Year Two
Over in Cincinnati, the Bearcats football program is looking to rebound from a rough first year in the Big 12. After a 3-9 debut season, coach Scott Satterfield has restocked the roster heavily through the transfer portal and hopes competition at quarterback and along both lines will help the team become far more competitive in year two. It’s a steep hill, but expectations — at least internally — are higher.
NBA Finals: Small-Market Showdown Delivers
While Ohio teams aren’t in the mix, the NBA Finals have offered one of the more refreshing championship series in years, featuring two small-market squads battling for their first title.
The Oklahoma City Thunder now sit one win away from claiming the championship after taking a 3-2 series lead over the Indiana Pacers. Jalen Williams exploded for 40 points in Game 5, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to look like one of the league’s premier closers. The Thunder’s young core is proving it’s ready for prime time.
For Indiana, the series hinges on the health of Tyrese Haliburton. After aggravating a calf injury, Haliburton looked hobbled in Game 5. If he can’t return close to full strength, Indiana’s chances of forcing a Game 7 take a serious hit. But for NBA fans tired of the same super-team matchups, this Finals has been a breath of fresh air — one that plenty of Ohio fans have been happy to watch from afar.
This week across Ohio sports, the common thread remains transition — rosters reshaping, competitions brewing, and teams angling for position before the grind of fall truly begins. The Browns are betting on young arms to emerge, the Bengals are determined to stop spotting teams early leads, and Ohio State is doing what it always does — reloading with an eye toward championships. Even as the Guardians fight to stay afloat and the NBA crowns a first-time champion, Ohio’s sports summer is far from idle. The real work is happening now — quietly, steadily — setting the stage for what’s ahead.
