In this preview, the Cincinnati Bengals face the Kansas City Chiefs. A wild late November stretch for Cincinnati Bearcats athletics concludes. Plus, the group stage winds down at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday at 4:25 PM (all times Eastern) on CBS, WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7).

College Football

The Luke Fickell era for the Cincinnati Bearcats came to a sudden end last Sunday. With Fickell accepting Wisconsin’s head coaching job after six years as Cincinnati’s head coach. Fickell’s departure wrapped up a wild week for University of Cincinnati athletics. Cincinnati Men’s Basketball lost two of their three games in the Maui Invitational. Though went into Thanksgiving on a high note. With a win against former conference rival Louisville.

Last Friday, Cincinnati Football narrowly lost to Tulane on Senior Day. Snapping what was the second-longest home winning streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Tulane loss also denied the Bearcats a chance to host the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. Last Saturday, Central Florida’s last-minute win over South Florida denied Cincinnati a conference title berth. Less than 18 hours later, Luke Fickell’s departure from UC was confirmed.

It was a bittersweet ending for the winningest coach in Cincinnati Football history. A year after coaching the Bearcats into their first ever College Football Playoff appearance. Months after Cincinnati accepted the offer to join the Big 12 Conference. 9-3 Cincinnati now awaits news on which bowl game they will play in. Kerry Coombs will be the interim head coach for the bowl game.

Meanwhile, there will be conference title games of local interest this weekend. Ohio will face Toledo in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game. Coming up Saturday at Noon on ESPN from Ford Field in Detroit, MI. Purdue and No.2 Michigan will play in the Big Ten Championship Game. Saturday at 8 PM on FOX from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Both games will feature potential candidates for Cincinnati’s head coaching job. Toledo head coach Jason Candle and Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Candle is in his eighth season as Toledo’s head coach. Striving to help Toledo win their second MAC Championship during Candle’s head coaching tenure. While the Michigan defense Minter coaches is a key factor. In Michigan’s hopes of qualifying for a second-consecutive playoff appearance. Minter also grew up around Bearcats Football; his father Rick was Cincinnati’s head coach from 1994-2003.

2022 FIFA World Cup

It’s win or go home time for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT). The US need to beat Iran Tuesday to advance to the knockout stage. After the USMNT tied Wales and England last week. The USMNT have two match points going into Tuesday. Ranking third in Group B, England leads with four points and Iran has three. Iran beat Wales but lost to England in their opening group stage matches.

Beyond USMNT, Canada will not advance to the knockout stage. This is Canada’s second ever appearance in the FIFA Men’s World Cup. In their loss to Croatia last Sunday, Canada’s Alphonso Davies made history. Scoring Canada’s first goal in a FIFA Men’s World Cup. America’s southern neighbor Mexico are in a similar situation to the USMNT. Mexico needs to beat Saudi Arabia to have any hope of advancing to the knockout stage. With one match point in Group C heading into this week.

FC Cincinnati defender Ronald Matarrita and his Costa Rican teammates are still in the mix in Group E. Costa Rica has three match points after beating Japan last week. Spain leads Group E with four match points after blowing out Costa Rica and tying with Germany. Japan and Costa Rica have three points respectively. While Germany goes into their match with Costa Rica with one point.

Here is this week’s World Cup group stage schedule of local interest. The TV networks broadcasting Wednesday and Thursday’s matches are subject to change. Matches could be switched from FS1 to FOX.

United States vs. Iran, Tuesday at 2 PM on FOX, Telemundo and Peacock Premium.

Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico, Wednesday at 2 PM on FS1, Telemundo and Peacock Premium.

Canada vs. Morocco, Thursday at 10 AM on FS1, Universo and Peacock Premium.

Costa Rica vs. Germany, Thursday at 2 PM on FS1, Universo and Peacock Premium.

The knockout stage of the tournament is set to start this Saturday.

Men’s College Basketball

Cincinnati vs. NJIT, Wednesday at 7 PM on ESPN+.

Mount St. Joseph at Bluffton, Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

Xavier vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Wednesday at 8:30 PM on FS1 and WKRC-AM (550).

Northern Kentucky vs. Youngstown State, Thursday at 7 PM on Bally Sports Ohio and WCKY-AM (1530).

Thomas More vs. Tennessee Southern, Thursday at 7:30 PM.

Thomas More vs. Cumberland University (TN), Saturday at 3 PM.

Mount St. Joseph at Anderson University (IN), Saturday at 3 PM.

Northern Kentucky vs. Robert Morris, Saturday at 6 PM on ESPN+ and WCKY-AM (1530).

Xavier vs. West Virginia, Saturday at 6:30 PM on FS1 and WLW-AM (700).

Cincinnati vs. Bryant, Sunday at Noon on ESPN+.

Women’s College Basketball

Northern Kentucky vs. Akron, Monday at 7 PM on ESPN+.

Mount St. Joseph vs. Bluffton, Monday at 7:30 PM.

Thomas More vs. Tennessee Southern, Thursday at 5:30 PM.

Cincinnati at North Carolina A&T, Thursday at 6 PM on FloHoops.

Xavier vs. Seton Hall, Friday at 7 PM on FloSports.

Northern Kentucky vs. Youngstown State, Friday at 7 PM on ESPN+.

Thomas More vs. Cumberland University (TN), Saturday at 1 PM.

Mount St. Joseph at Anderson University (IN), Saturday at 1 PM.

Northern Kentucky vs. Robert Morris, Sunday at 2 PM on ESPN+.

Cincinnati vs. UIC, Sunday at 3 PM on ESPN+.

Xavier at Georgetown, Sunday at 6:30 PM on FS1.

Thomas More Men’s Rugby

National Collegiate Rugby Tournament- Reading, PA

Thomas More (7-0) vs. Queens University of Charlotte, Saturday at 5:30 PM.

Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones vs. Toledo Walleye, Friday at 7:30 PM.

Cyclones at Toledo Walleye, Saturday at 7:15 PM.

Cyclones at Fort Wayne Komets, Sunday at 5 PM.

All Cyclones games can be seen on FloHockey and heard on cycloneshockey.com.