CINCINNATI —

The city's Super Bowl runner-ups may have a new stadium name for the upcoming 2023 season.

A source confirmed to WLWT's Brandon Saho that the Bengals ownership is actively shopping the naming rights for Paul Brown Stadium.

This comes after a previous season in which the Bengals exploded into the national spotlight following a historic Super Bowl appearance.

Almost 22 years ago, Paul Brown Stadium opened for its first NFL game.

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The name, Paul Brown Stadium, is currently one of three NFL stadiums that do not have a corporate naming deal.

The other two are Soldier Field in Chicago and Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

A potential "new name" deal would not be possible without vote from both Hamilton County and City Hall of Cincinnati.

This is because Paul Brown Stadium is owned by the Hamilton County taxpayers, so both sides will have to vote on the potential deal.

Yet still, a name change could bring in a flux of new money to the team.

Recently, arch-rival the Pittsburgh Steelers, recently changed the name of "Heinz Field" to "Acrisure Stadium", after the insurance company bought the naming rights just a few weeks ago.

This is a breaking news story. WLWT will continue to update you with any new information.

ARLINGTON, Texas — While Cincinnati did not win, two special teams players garnered some attention in UC's loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff.

Middletown native Cole Smith scored the Bearcats' only points, drilling his first field goal since Oct. 8 on Cincinnati's first drive of the day. He followed it up with a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Freshman punter Mason Fletcher gave UC several opportunities, putting Alabama inside their own 10-yard line twice in the second quarter. The second of those two punts was muffed by returner JoJo Earle, and an Alabama player received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for throwing Fletcher in the scrum.

Fletcher, whose father Dustin played 400 games in the Australian Football League, even hit the billionaire strut after perfectly placing a 54-yard punt. Former pro punter Pat McAfee called Fletcher "a problem" in a video posted on Twitter.

"Good luck Saban," McAfee said. "You're preparing for Desmond Ridder, prepare for Mason Fletcher — it's impossible."

Another great moment for the Bearcats? Mount Healthy High School grad Bryan Cook intercepting Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young. Cook had only one scholarship offer as a high school senior during the 2016 season. Five years later, he is an American Athletic Conference first-team selection and one of five UC seniors to accept an invitation to the Senior Bowl in February.

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CINCINNATI — While there might not be "a ton to do in Cincinnati," the city has had some great sports moments in 2021.

The Bearcats smashed college football’s glass ceiling by becoming the first school from a so-called “Group of Five” conference to advance to the sport's four-team playoff.

While in many ways it was the year of the Bearcat, several other highlights happened in Cincinnati sports this year.

Joe Burrow returned from a knee injury earlier than most believed possible. He and former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase have the Bengals in the hunt for the postseason for the first time since 2015. Chase, defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Joe Mixon were named to the Pro Bowl (with Burrow and four others named alternates).

The Bengals also debuted new stripes for the franchise’s first new look since 2004.

Despite a renaissance season from Joey Votto and all-star nods for outfielders Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker, the Reds failed to make the postseason, running out of gas in September.

The sport shut down in December as the owners locked out the players. The strike season of 1994 was the last time baseball has experienced a work stoppage.

While it may feel like the year of the Bearcat, it was not Cincinnati's day at Cintas Center earlier this month. Xavier beat UC 83-63 in the Crosstown Shootout.

FC Cincinnati opened TQL Stadium this year, but only won once in the West End. The new stadium did welcome back Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle, who scored in the fourth minute in the USWNT's game against Paraguay this September. The Mount Notre Dame graduate also assisted two goals in the 8-0 win.

The Western and Southern Open returned to Mason after a year away due to the pandemic.

Three Tri-state football teams celebrated state championships — Winton Woods, Beechwood and Clinton-Massie. The Warriors routed Akron Archbishop Hoban to capture their second championship ever, while the Tigers and Falcons won close games to earn their hardware.

Mount Notre Dame basketball brought home its eighth state title, while the school's soccer team won its first state championship ever in November.

Trenton native Zach Apple won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics while swimming the anchor leg on the United States men's 4x100m freestyle relay team. Apple, Caeleb Dressel, Blake Pieroni and Becker won the race in 3 minutes, 8.97 seconds, the third-fastest time in history.

The year isn’t over. UC football continues its run to a national title on New Year’s Eve against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

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CINCINNATI — University of Cincinnati fans celebrated the Bearcats' perfect regular season Friday at local restaurants and bars.

“I’ve been a superfan! I grew up in Cincinnati, I’ve had season tickets since 2006, I don’t even remember the first game I went to — that’s how big of a superfan I am,” Joseph Kelly said.

Kelly, a junior at UC, watched the team play East Carolina with his friends on Short Vine — a staple for students and alumni.

“It’s awesome. I couldn’t have been in school at a better time," Kelly said.

A few East Carolina fans did sneak into the watch party — including Byron Walton's nephew.

"Hey, it's a holiday weekend," Walton said. "We have a lot of family in from out of town. It's so great to get everyone together."

Walton said the two have a nice rivalry, though his nephew admitted he was nervous to go to bar. While they are not on the field, fans felt the pressure for the Bearcats to complete a perfect regular season — especially with the College Football Playoff on the line.

"We came out of the gate slow," Walton said. "You can feel the anxiety, you can feel that weight, but once that settles...the team does what they do."

And what they did was win. Now, Bearcats fans are hoping the team wins the AAC championship Dec. 4 in hopes of becoming the first team outside of a Power Five conference to compete in the four-team playoffs.

"The OSUs, the Alabamas, they get this every year," Kelly said. "UC fans don't get this every year, so I think it's just awesome that we finally get to experience it. Hopefully, we can keep this rolling for years and years and years."

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