The Cincinnati Bearcats opened their season against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. But the buzz heading into the matchup wasn’t just about football. Fans were eager to know whether two newly engaged celebrities would make an appearance.
Earlier this week, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift announced their engagement in a post that broke the internet, racking up over 33 million likes and more than a million reposts in just 24 hours. With Kelce being a Cincinnati alum who played from 2008 to 2012 as both quarterback and tight end, speculation quickly swirled that he and Swift might show up for the Bearcats’ opener.
Sure enough, the rumours proved true. Just 26 minutes after kickoff, the Bearcats’ official X account confirmed Swift was in the building. Not long after, ESPN’s cameras caught Kelce and Swift together in the stands, making the game their first public appearance since the engagement.
On the field, the matchup was just as dramatic. Nebraska and Cincinnati traded blows all night, with the Bearcats trailing 20–17 in the final minute. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby led a late drive to try to set up a game-tying field goal. But with only 34 seconds remaining, Sorsby was intercepted, sealing a hard-fought win for the Cornhuskers.
Cincinnati will now look to regroup next week against Bowling Green, while Nebraska aims to keep its early momentum alive when it faces Akron.