NEBRASKA VS. CINCINNATI: CENTURY-LONG DROUGHT ENDS AT ARROWHEAD

Ajay Allen - June 13, 2025

College football fans are in for a rare and historic treat this August, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Cincinnati Bearcats prepare to face off at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Central Time, this matchup will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN and streamed via the ESPN app.

Though the programs have traveled vastly different paths through college football history, this will mark only the second time they’ve met on the gridiron. The first and only prior meeting came all the way back in 1906, when Nebraska shut out Cincinnati 41–0 in Lincoln. Now, 119 years later, the Bearcats have a shot at evening the all-time series in what will technically be their home game; just not at their usual Nippert Stadium.

The decision to host the game at Arrowhead brings additional energy and intrigue to the matchup. Known for being the home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, Arrowhead Stadium has hosted iconic college football games in the past, including Big 12 Championship matchups featuring Nebraska.

This will be the Cornhuskers’ first return to Arrowhead since their 2006 Big 12 title appearance against Oklahoma.

For Cincinnati, the venue offers national exposure in one of the NFL’s loudest and most revered stadiums, just hours from both Lincoln and Cincinnati.

Nebraska, one of college football’s most storied programs, continues its Big Ten journey under head coach Matt Rhule. The Huskers carry with them decades of tradition, five national championships, and one of the most loyal fanbases in the sport. Their move to the Big Ten over a decade ago added a new chapter to their history, and they’ll look to start the 2025 season with a statement win on a major stage.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, is still adjusting to life in the Big 12. After a 5–7 season in 2024, second year head coach Scott Satterfield is aiming to reignite the spark that carried the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff just a few years ago. Playing at Arrowhead has its own symbolism for Cincinnati, with former Bearcats like Travis Kelce and Bryan Cook starring for the Chiefs, giving the program a direct connection to the stadium and the city.

This game is the first part of a home and home series between the two schools, with Nebraska set to host the Bearcats in Lincoln in 2033. It’s a unique scheduling decision that both honors college football’s history and adapts to the modern landscape, where brand exposure and creative venue choices are more important than ever.

Tickets for the game are available through Ticketmaster and Chiefs.com. Fans from both schools are expected to pack the stadium, with Kansas City’s central location making it a manageable trip for both Husker and Bearcat fans.

The game will air on ESPN, offering fans across the country a prime-time look at two teams with something to prove. Whether it’s Nebraska trying to reclaim national relevance or Cincinnati aiming to rise in the Big 12 ranks, all eyes will be on Arrowhead Stadium when the Cornhuskers and Bearcats kick off the 2025 season under the lights.

Nebraska and Cincinnati will meet in Kansas City on Thursday, August 28, 2025. The game will kick off at 8:00 p.m. Central Time and will be broadcast on ESPN. This is only the second meeting between the two programs, with Nebraska leading the all-time series 1–0 after a 41–0 victory in 1906. The game will be played at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. It is technically a home game for Cincinnati. The two schools are scheduled to meet again in 2033 in Lincoln.

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