Where does upset of No. 10 Louisville rank among Mark Stoops’ best Kentucky football wins?
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Game day: Kentucky 38, No. 10 Louisville 31
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Louisville Governor’s Cup football game at Louisville.
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Kentucky clinched a winning record for the 2023 season with a 38-31 upset of No. 10 Louisville to extend its winning streak in the Governor’s Cup rivalry to five games. The victory was just Kentucky’s second over a top-10 team in Mark Stoops’ 11 seasons as head coach.
But was it Stoops’ best win at UK? Here is a look at the other contenders as Stoops is tied to the Texas A&M coaching search.
Kentucky 41, No. 11 Louisville 38 (Nov. 26, 2016)
This is probably the closest corollary to Saturday’s victory in the Stoops era. The difference is the 2016 Wildcats were just starting Stoops’ run of success, while the 2023 team is fighting to remain relevant in a new-look SEC. UK quarterback Stephen Johnson outplayed eventual Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson in the 2016 game. This season’s team might have spoiled Louisville’s hopes at reaching a New Year’s Six bowl game if the Cardinals cannot beat Florida State in next week’s ACC championship game.
Kentucky 27, No. 25 Florida 16 (Sept. 8, 2018)
While the Gators were just barely in the top 25 at the time of this win, it immediately shot to the top of Stoops’ most memorable victories because it snapped Kentucky’s 31-game losing streak in the series. The win only grew more impressive as the season went on as the Gators finished the season ranked No. 8 nationally, the highest-ranked team in the final poll Stoops has beaten at UK.
No. 16 Kentucky 27, No. 12 Penn State 24 (Jan. 1, 2019)
Kentucky’s Citrus Bowl win over Penn State gave the Wildcats their first 10-win season since 1977 and sent a clear message that the program could reach a new level. The fact that it featured standout performances from UK legends Benny Snell and Josh Allen in their final games only made it that much sweeter.
Kentucky 34, No. 18 Tennessee 7 (Oct. 17, 2020)
Kentucky’s first win at Neyland Stadium since 1984 will be remembered for the emotional pregame speech delivered by beloved offensive line coach John Schlarman. Yes, the 2020 Tennessee team finished the year at 3-7, but some games mean more than just the result on the field. This was the last game Schlarman coached for UK. He died after a two-year battle with cancer less than a month later.
No. 25 Kentucky 20, No. 17 Iowa 17 (Jan. 1, 2022)
The Wildcats’ second Citrus Bowl appearance of the Stoops era featured an unforgettable finish with Will Levis and Wan’Dale Robinson leading Kentucky to a come-from-behind win. This game more than any other elevated the expectations for the last two seasons. The fact that Kentucky has failed to meet those expectations in some ways only adds to the importance of the victory.
This story was originally published November 25, 2023 at 3:34 PM.
