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Kentucky vs. Louisville: TV/Streaming Info, Keys to the Game, and Predictions

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Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops walks across the field before the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Kroger Field.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

It’s no secret, the Kentucky Wildcats have been disappointing this season. Entering the year with hopes of nine or even ten wins, Kentucky enters the regular season finale with six wins. However, they could salvage some positivity for the fanbase if they can retain the Governor’s Cup against Louisville.

As disappointing as things have been in Lexington this season, it has been quite the opposite for Louisville. Hiring former Cardinal quarterback Jeff Brohm to lead the program, the Cardinals have won ten games for the first time since 2013 in his first season. While they have taken nearly full advantage with an easy schedule, not playing a top-three ACC team in the regular season, the turnaround has been impressive.

That said, ten wins or a New Year’s Bowl is not their season goal, it is to beat Kentucky, something they haven’t done since 2017. In preparation of the game, Brohm has called the Kentucky game the “most important” game of the season, Brohm has called the Kentucky game the “most important” of the season.

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With Louisville having more to lose, let’s look at what Kentucky needs to do to play spoiler

Offensive Line

The Louisville defense’s strength is stopping in the run, ranking top 10 in the country in doing so, but also has one of the better pass rushes in the country. Meaning, that for Kentucky to have any offensive success the offensive line will have to provide good protection.

The Cardinals are more vulnerable against the pass, but Kentucky has failed to be consistent in the passing game this season. That said, the Wildcats are 13th in the country in rushing yards per attempt at 5.1 yards, but 129th in in rush attempts per game. A winning combination will be a mix of both, but as said, any offensive success will start in the trenches.

Will Kentucky come prepared?

At the end of a disappointing season, following a loss to a sub .500 South Carolina team, will Kentucky come out prepared? That is the worry. Kentucky has the talent to put up a fight, but they have the talent to win more than six or seven games this season, yet

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If you are hopeful, star defensive lineman Deon Walker went on a Louisville rant earlier this week. “I never liked Louisville even when I was getting recruited,” Walker said. “I just don’t like the Cardinals. Their fans are kind of snobbish and their players act entitled.”

If you are looking for reasons for skepticism, look no further than Ray Davis’s and Dane Key’s Twitter after the South Carolina loss. That was just a week ago. Can Mark Stoops and Co. regain the trust of the players in that span? Saturday will tell.

What is the difference between the ACC and SEC?

The SEC is the best conference in football, as shown by the sixteen championships since 2000. However, many just believe the conference is just top-heavy and carried by the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and LSU.

This is a contest against the top of the ACC and the middle of the SEC and should provide an example of the gap between the two conferences.

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Kentucky Wildcats (6-5) vs. #10 Louisville Cardinals (10-1)

  • Time: 12:00 pm ET on November 26th.
  • Location: L&N Federal Credit Union Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY
  • TV Channel: ABC
  • Online Stream: You can stream the game online using WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
  • Announcers: Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, and Katie George will call the action.
  • Live Blog
  • Radio: Tom Leach and Jeff Piecoro have the UK radio network call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
  • Satellite Radio: XM Channel 203, Sirius Channel 98, Internet Channel 966
  • Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
  • Rosters: UK | UofL
  • Stats To Know: UK | UofL
  • Advanced Stats
  • Covers.com Weather Forecast:
  • Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook has Kentucky bet down to a 7.5-point underdog. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Cats a 1 in 4 chance of pulling off the win, at 25.7 percent.
  • PredictionsTeamRankings and DRatings.com have Louisville winning and retaking the Governer’s Cup with a 28-21 win. After losing to South Carolina and in the fashion in which they did, I just don’t see Kentucky beating a top 10 Lousiville team. For that reason, I pick Louisville to win 31-21.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

Football

Louisville Football Player Charged With First-Degree Strangulation, Days After Committing Game Losing Personal Foul

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Louisville Cardinals defensive back Tayon Holloway (20) reacts to his defensive play.
Eric Canha | Imagn

On Monday, Louisville football defensive back Tayon Holloway was detained and charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault.

This comes just days after the former four-star prospect committed a costly personal foul to put a 2-7 Stanford team in field goal range and upset Louosillve 38-35 with a walk-off field goal.

As expected, Holloway has been indefinitely suspended from the team.

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“The University of Louisville is aware of the arrest of football student-athlete Tayon Holloway,” the university said in a statement. “As we gather more information, Tayon has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities.”

Things Cardinals seem to be in a downward trend as the Commonwealth Cup nears, November 30th.

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Kentucky snaps four game losing streak defeats Murray State 48-6

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Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops talking to Murray State football coach Jody Wright.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

Kentucky gets a much-needed victory over Murray St 48-6 to snap its four-game losing Streak. Brock Vandagriff led the way for the Cats, going 12-19 for 183 passing yards and two touchdown passes to Hardley Gilmore IV and Ja’Mori Maclin. 48 Points is the most points Kentucky has scored in a game since 2021 when the Cats scored 51 points against Louisville.

The defense held Murray St. without a touchdown. For the second time this season, Kentucky’s defense has held an opponent without a touchdown.

Freshman Standout today:

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For the second time this season, Kentucky breaks the 40-point mark as three freshmen make impacts for Kentucky. Jamarion Wilcox had 13 carries and 124 yards with a touchdown in the 3rd quarter.

Receiver Hardley Gilmore IV had two receptions for 72 yards and caught the 52-yard touchdown pass from Brock Vandagriff on the game-opening drive.

Four-star quarterback Cutter Boley started the second half for the Cats, going 10-14 and passing for 130 yards with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, both touchdown passes to sophomore receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens.

Defense Bounces Back:

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After giving up over 475 yards of total offense each of the last three games, Kentucky’s defense holds Murray State to 256 total yards of offense while also having three takeaways from the Murray State offense

Defensive Lineman Tre’vonn Rybka led the way for the defense with five tackles and the only sack of the game for Kentucky’s defense. Jordan Lovett had two takeaways in the first half for Kentucky and one in the red zone in the second quarter. Jackson Schultz had the final takeaway, picking off Jim Ogle’s pass late in the fourth quarter.

Box Score

With the win today over Murray St., Kentucky moves to 4-6 (1-6 SEC) with two games remaining. They look to keep their bowl eligibility alive as they travel to Austin, Texas, and face the No. 3 ranked Texas Longhorns at 3:30 pm on ABC. 

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Mark Stoops Responds to Retirement Rumors, “Zero Percent Chance I Do That”

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Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops responds to retirement rumors amidst disappointing season. "Zero percent chance I do that."
Jordan Prather | Imagn

To say there is unrest in the Kentucky Football fanbase would be an understatement. With a 3-6 record overall, and 1-6 in the SEC (15th out of 16) things look bleak, and there is still a quarter of the season to go. Considering the regression from the previous two seasons as well, it’s difficult to be optimistic about the future.

Over the last few weeks, rumors have circled that head coach Mark Stoops has considered retiring at the end of the season. Optics wise it makes sense, his older brother Bob Stoops surprisingly retired from Oklahoma at just 56, and Mark, now 57, has expressed a desire to spend more time with his children.

At his weekly press conference, Stoops was asked directly if there is any chance that he would walk away from Kentucky and retire at the season. To which he responded, bluntly:

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“Zero percent chance I do that. Next question.”

Mark Stoops is still owed more than $44 million on his contract. That’s A LOT of money to leave on the table and is the reason that the decision will be Stoops’ to make, as Kentucky cannot afford the buyout.

If Stoops holds true to his word and returns next season, NIL fundraising efforts may be the most difficult it has been for him. However, he hopes it sparks motivation to donate.

“I’ve seen it at other SEC schools,” Stoops said. “I want to stay away from that. I really get tired of — I don’t want to be like I am whining, I am crying. It is reality. You have to have dollars.”

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