Bengals & Big Blue Weekly: Scores, Outlooks & Bourbon Plans (Sept 11–18, 2025)

Game days are back and the Bluegrass is buzzing. Bengals fans are eyeing a clean Week 1 start, while Kentucky opened the season with a fourth-quarter punch at Kroger Field. Between tailgates and road trips, the calendar is packed with bourbon festivals, tastings, and downtown nights. Here’s your fast, fan-forward recap plus what’s next—and where to be this week.

Cincinnati Bengals

Most recent result: Preseason finale — Colts 41, Bengals 14 (August 23, 2025).

Three things that mattered

• Colts QB Riley Leonard went 15/20 for 189 yards and a TD.

• Desmond Ridder’s 1-yard QB sneak capped the Bengals’ best drive.

• Cincinnati bright spot: Kendall Milton rushed for 72 yards.

Outlook: Preseason’s in the books; now it counts. Next up: at Cleveland Browns, Sunday, September 7, 2025. Sharpen early-down efficiency and red-zone execution to avoid another slow Week 1 start.

Kentucky Wildcats (Football)

Most recent result: Kentucky 24, Toledo 16 (Saturday, August 30, 2025). Transfer RB Dante Dowdell broke it open with a 79-yard fourth-quarter TD; he finished with 129 yards.

Three things that mattered

• Ground game controlled the fourth: 220 rushing yards for UK.

• Defense tightened late, holding Toledo to 16.

• Special teams and field position helped seal it.

Outlook: Momentum into an SEC home test, then a tune-up. Next up: Ole Miss in Lexington, Saturday, September 6, 2025 (3:30 PM). After that, Eastern Michigan at home, Saturday, September 13, 2025 (7:30 PM).

Bourbon & Events (Sept 11–18, 2025)

• Bourbon & Beyond — Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY — September 11–14, 2025 — Tickets/passes available.

• Central Bank Thursday Night Live — Fifth Third Pavilion, Lexington, KY — Thursday, September 11, 2025 (5–8 PM) — Free, walk-up.

• Weller Bourbon Tasting — (Venue TBA), Covington, KY — Thursday, September 11, 2025 (7 PM) — Ticketed tasting; advance purchase required.

• Willow Run Anniversary: Custom Bourbon Blending — Willow Run, Downtown Cincinnati, OH — Friday, September 12, 2025 — RSVP/booking recommended.

• “A Brief History of Kentucky Bourbon” Tasting — The Kentucky Castle, Versailles, KY — Thursday, September 18, 2025 (6:30–7:45 PM) — Ticketed, limited seating.

• Oktoberfest Zinzinnati — Downtown Riverfront, Cincinnati, OH — September 18–21, 2025 — Open festival; check on-site schedules.

Shop the look

Game-day staples and local-pride gear:

• Bengals + KY Game Day: /collections/game-day

• Kentucky Collection: /collections/kentucky

• Bengals Collection: /collections/bengals