LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville and University of Kentucky football teams will renew their rivalry Saturday in a matchup featuring two squads heading opposite directions.
The No. 9 Cardinals (10-1, 7-1 ACC) have won four straight after their only loss of the season to Pittsburgh. First year head coach Jeff Brohm is a legitimate national coach of the year candidate after leading his team the ACC championship game for the first time in school history.
The Wildcats (6-5, 3-5 SEC) have lost five of their last six after starting the season 5-0.
Coach Brohm is new to the job, but he knows Kentucky has gotten the better of this rivalry in recent years, having won the last four.
"They've won a lot of games against our program, so we've got to get back to work and understand what this game means," Brohm said during his Monday news conference. "It means a lot to not only our team, but to our fanbase. We've got to have a great week of practice and try to come out with the win. It's an important game."
Brohm never played against Kentucky when he quarterbacked the Cardinals, but said rivalries have always been important to him. He referenced his high school days at Trinity and the rivalry with St. X.
"It means a lot to the fanbase and to the city," he said. "Everyone wants bragging rights. This is one of the reasons you play sports; to come through in a big rivalry game where fans and players know each other."
Kentucky is no stranger to playing a highly ranked opponent. This will be UK's fourth game this season against a team currently in the top 10 of the AP poll.
Head coach Mark Stoops said Monday this will be the last time his full group of players and coaches will take the field together, hinting some players will hit the transfer portal or sit out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft.
"It's been a challenging schedule and a challenging year, and I feel like we've had so many opportunities that we've let slip away," Stoops said. "We need to get some things corrected, we need to play better, we need to coach better. But nobody is defeated in our facility, that's for sure. Our team will show the resolve they always have and come back this week to try to put together a great week."
UL-UK might be a bitter rivalry for some fans, but neither coach had anything negative to say about the other or his program.
Brohm said the two crossed paths a time or two over the years.
"I like coach Stoops," he said. "He's a really good football coach and a good person. He's been able to build the Kentucky brand. He's a football guy from a football family, so I have a lot of respect for that."
Stoops also had nice things to say about the man who will be on the other sideline this Saturday.
"I've always liked him," Stoops said. "I have a lot of respect for him and his brother. He's a good man and he's done a great job."
Saturday's game starts at noon on WHAS11.
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