In celebration of 30 years, relive every game of the modern UK-U of L football rivalry
Three decades ago, when then-athletics directors C.M. Newton of Kentucky and Bill Olsen of Louisville decided to resume the Wildcats-Cardinals football series after it had been dormant for nearly seven decades, there was one goal:
Raise the status of and interest in college football in the hoops-mad commonwealth.
As we prepare for the 30th renewal of the modern Governor’s Cup rivalry, that mission has largely been accomplished.
Consider:
Of Kentucky’s 23 all-time bowl trips, 15 have come since 1994.
Of Louisville’s 25 all-time bowl trips, 21 have come since 1994.
The Governor’s Cup rivalry has served as a stage for high-wattage stars from Tim Couch to Teddy Bridgewater, from Lamar Jackson to Lynn Bowden.
From “The Lightning Game” to “Stevie got loose” to Kentucky ruining Jeff Brohm’s Governor’s Cup coaching debut just last season with a massive upset, the UK-U of L football rivalry has assumed a prominent place among our state’s annual sports offerings.
Thirty years after the renewal of the Cats-Cards series, let’s relive every game in the modern history of the Governor’s Cup rivalry:
1994: Kentucky 20, Louisville 14
Date: Sept. 3
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Bill Curry
Louisville coach: Howard Schnellenberger
Kentucky starting quarterback: Jeff Speedy
Louisville starting quarterback: Marty Lowe
Favorite: Kentucky by 4 points
Attendance: 59,162
The storyline: Kentucky linebacker Donte Key set up UK’s winning touchdown with a fumble recovery then sealed the win with a late interception of U of L QB Marty Lowe. The season-opening victory was the only game Kentucky would win in an otherwise cursed 1994 season.
Final Kentucky record: 1-10
Final Louisville record: 6-5.
1995: Louisville 13, Kentucky 10
Date: Sept. 2
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Bill Curry
Louisville coach: Ron Cooper
Kentucky starting quarterback: Jeff Speedy
Louisville starting quarterback: Marty Lowe
Favorite: Louisville by 4 points
Attendance: 58,967
The storyline: In a tense defensive struggle, Louisville running back Calvin Arrington carried the ball 37 times for 133 yards, including the game-winning 1-yard TD with 1:29 left.
Final Kentucky record: 4-7
Final Louisville record: 7-4
1996: Louisville 38, Kentucky 14
Date: Aug. 31
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Bill Curry
Louisville coach: Ron Cooper
Kentucky starting quarterback: Billy Jack Haskins
Louisville starting quarterback: Jason Payne
Favorite: Kentucky by 1½ points
Attendance: 59,384
The storyline: U of L scored two defensive touchdowns and got 10 more points off two blocked punts. The game also went down in state of Kentucky football history as the first college football appearances of two significant homegrown QBs —UK’s Tim Couch (Leslie County) and U of L’s Chris Redman (Male).
Final Kentucky record: 4-7
Final Louisville record: 5-6
1997: Kentucky 38, Louisville 24
Date: Aug. 30
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Hal Mumme
Louisville coach: Ron Cooper
Kentucky starting quarterback: Tim Couch
Louisville starting quarterback: Chris Redman
Favorite: Louisville by 3 points
Attendance: 59,186
The storyline: The pass-happy Hal Mumme era debuted to boffo returns as Tim Couch threw for 398 yards and four touchdowns to earn his first victory as a college QB.
Final Kentucky record: 5-6
Final Louisville record: 1-10
1998: Kentucky 68, Louisville 34
Date: Sept. 5
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Hal Mumme
Louisville coach: John L. Smith
Kentucky starting quarterback: Tim Couch
Louisville starting quarterback: Chris Redman
Favorite: Kentucky by 11 points
Attendance: 42,643
The storyline: In the inaugural game at U of L’s new football stadium and the first game for John L. Smith as Cardinals coach, Tim Couch spoiled the party. The UK quarterback launched his junior season by throwing for seven TDs and leading UK to 801 yards of total offense.
Final Kentucky record: 7-5
Final Louisville record: 7-5
1999: Louisville 56, Kentucky 28
Date: Sept. 4
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Hal Mumme
Louisville coach: John L. Smith
Kentucky starting quarterback: Dusty Bonner
Louisville starting quarterback: Chris Redman
Favorite: Louisville by 3 points
Attendance: 70,692
The storyline: One year after UK and Tim Couch ruined the opening of Louisville’s new stadium, U of L and Redman returned the favor. In the first game in the expanded Commonwealth Stadium, the Louisville senior threw for five touchdowns. It was a sweet win for John L. Smith, who said in the run-up to the game that UK had always treated U of L like a “red-headed step-child.”
Final Kentucky record: 6-6
Final Louisville record: 7-5
2000: Louisville 40, Kentucky 34 (OT)
Date: Sept. 2
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Hal Mumme
Louisville coach: John L. Smith
Kentucky starting quarterback: Jared Lorenzen
Louisville starting quarterback: Dave Ragone
Favorite: Kentucky by 5½ points
Attendance: 42,515
The storyline: UK had a 19-14 lead when the game was stopped in the third quarter by lightning. After a one-hour and 12 minute delay, play resumed — and things got wild. Kentucky had a chip shot field goal to win the game blocked on the final play of regulation. U of L’s Tony Stallings ended things with a 25-yard TD run in the overtime. Afterward, Hal Mumme lashed out at Louisville, complaining about UK having to play a team that “lives to beat us.”
Final Kentucky record: 2-9
Final Louisville record: 9-3
2001: Louisville 36, Kentucky 10
Date: Sept. 1
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Guy Morriss
Louisville coach: John L. Smith
Kentucky starting quarterback: Jared Lorenzen
Louisville starting quarterback: Dave Ragone
Favorite: Louisville by 3 points
Attendance: 70,838
The storyline: The debut of Guy Morriss as UK head coach did not go well, as the Wildcats amassed a paltry 213 yards of offense.
Final Kentucky record: 2-9
Final Louisville record: 11-2
2002: Kentucky 22, No. 17 Louisville 17
Date: Sept. 1
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Guy Morriss
Louisville coach: John L. Smith
Kentucky starting quarterback: Jared Lorenzen
Louisville starting quarterback: Dave Ragone
Favorite: Louisville by 12 points
Attendance: 42,660
The storyline: A stout UK defensive front led by future NFL first-round draft pick Dewayne Robertson brought the lumber on U of L QB Dave Ragone and led the Cats to a massive upset of the No. 17 Cards.
Final Kentucky record: 7-5
Final Louisville record: 7-6
2003: Louisville 40, Kentucky 24
Date: Aug. 31
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Rich Brooks
Louisville coach: Bobby Petrino
Kentucky starting quarterback: Jared Lorenzen
Louisville starting quarterback: Stefan LeFors
Favorite: Kentucky by 5½ points
Attendance: 70,467
The storyline: In the first game for the coaches of both teams, Bobby Petrino gained the upper hand as an error-filled Kentucky effort undermined the coaching debut of Rich Brooks. Louisville’s final TD came with six seconds left in the game, causing some UK backers to accuse Petrino of running up the score.
Final Kentucky record: 4-8
Final Louisville record: 9-4
2004: Louisville 28, Kentucky 0
Date: Sept. 5
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Rich Brooks
Louisville coach: Bobby Petrino
Kentucky starting quarterback: Shane Boyd
Louisville starting quarterback: Stefan LeFors
Favorite: Louisville by 9 points
Attendance: 42,681
The storyline: In a drab offensive effort, UK failed to cross midfield in the entire first half. Given another chance to score a late TD with the outcome already decided, U of L this time took a knee. “I just thought I’d give Kentucky what they wanted,” Bobby Petrino jibed.
Final Kentucky record: 2-9
Final Louisville record: 11-1
2005: No. 12 Louisville 31, Kentucky 24
Date: Sept. 4
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Rich Brooks
Louisville coach: Bobby Petrino
Kentucky starting quarterback: Andre Woodson
Louisville starting quarterback: Brian Brohm
Favorite: Louisville by 22½ points
Attendance: 70,752
The storyline: Down 28-7 at halftime, underdog UK rallied furiously and was driving for the tying score in the fourth quarter when Andre Woodson lost a fumble at the U of L 2-yard line.
Final Kentucky record: 3-8
Final Louisville record: 9-3
2006: No. 13 Louisville 59, Kentucky 28
Date: Sept. 3
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Rich Brooks
Louisville coach: Bobby Petrino
Kentucky starting quarterback: Andre Woodson
Louisville starting quarterback: Brian Brohm
Favorite: Louisville by 22½ points
Attendance: 42,597
The storyline: In the run-up to the game, University of Kentucky president Lee Todd referred to the U of L football program as ”over-marketed and under-performing.” Sufficiently motivated, the Cards crushed the Cats. Michael Bush ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns before suffering a season-ending broken leg on the second play of the third quarter. It ended the ex-Male High star’s college career — and might have ultimately cost the Cards a chance to play in the national championship game.
Final Kentucky record: 8-5
Final Louisville record: 12-1
2007: Kentucky 40, No. 9 Louisville 34
Date: Sept. 15
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Rich Brooks
Louisville coach: Steve Kragthorpe
Kentucky starting quarterback: Andre Woodson
Louisville starting quarterback: Brian Brohm
Favorite: Louisville by 5½ points
Attendance: 70,857
The storyline: In one of the best games ever played in the Governor’s Cup series, Andre Woodson hit Steve Johnson with a 57-yard scoring pass with 28 seconds left in the contest to give Kentucky its first win in the rivalry since 2002. UK’s upset of No. 9 U of L was its first victory over a top-10 foe since 1977.
Final Kentucky record: 8-5
Final Louisville record: 6-6
2008: Kentucky 27, Louisville 2
Date: Aug. 31
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Rich Brooks
Louisville coach: Steve Kragthorpe
Kentucky starting quarterback: Mike Hartline
Louisville starting quarterback: Hunter Cantwell
Favorite: Louisville by 3½ points
Attendance: 42,696
The storyline: The Kentucky defense put a smack-down on Louisville. UK returned two fumbles for touchdowns and set up a third TD with an interception. For the game, Kentucky forced five turnovers and held Louisville to 205 yards of offense.
Final Kentucky record: 7-6
Final Louisville record: 5-7
2009: Kentucky 31, Louisville 27
Date: Sept. 19
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Rich Brooks
Louisville coach: Steve Kragthorpe
Kentucky starting quarterback: Mike Hartline
Louisville starting quarterback: Justin Burke
Favorite: Kentucky by 13½ points
Attendance: 70,988
The storyline: Heavily-favored UK led 17-7 at the half but let Louisville back in the game with three third quarter turnovers. Lexington Catholic product Justin Burke then put U of L on the brink of an upset by throwing two fourth quarter touchdown passes. But UK star Randall Cobb saved the Cats with two clutch plays in the final period, including catching the game-winning TD pass on a fade pattern with 4:28 left in the game.
Final Kentucky record: 7-6
Final Louisville record: 4-8
2010: Kentucky 23, Louisville 16
Date: Sept. 4
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Joker Phillips
Louisville coach: Charlie Strong
Kentucky starting quarterback: Mike Hartline
Louisville starting quarterback: Adam Froman
Favorite: Kentucky by three points
Attendance: 55,327
The storyline: The first game played in the expanded Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium also featured the first time in college football history that two Black head coaches from BCS conferences (SEC and Big East) faced each other in a season opener. Behind playmakers Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb, Kentucky jumped to a 20-3 first-half lead, then held on in half two. UK’s Mike Hartline became the first quarterback in the modern history of the Governor’s Cup to go 3-0 as a starter in the rivalry.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Derrick Locke, Kentucky (first year the award was presented by the Louisville Sports Commission)
Kentucky’s final record: 6-7
Louisville’s final record: 7-6
2011: Louisville 24, Kentucky 17
Date: Sept. 17
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Joker Phillips
Louisville coach: Charlie Strong
Kentucky starting quarterback: Morgan Newton
Louisville starting quarterback: Will Stein
Favorite: Kentucky by 5½ points
Attendance: 68,170
The storyline: Louisville true freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater replaced an injured Will Stein and threw two touchdown passes as U of L claimed the Governor’s Cup for the first time since 2006. Linebacker Dexter Heyman (12 tackles, a forced fumble) had two of the whopping 14 tackles for loss (including six sacks) recorded by the Cardinals’ defense.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Dexter Heyman, Louisville
Kentucky’s final record: 5-7
Louisville’s final record: 7-6
2012: No. 25 Louisville 32, Kentucky 14
Date: Sept 2
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Joker Phillips
Louisville coach: Charlie Strong
Kentucky starting quarterback: Maxwell Smith
Louisville starting quarterback: Teddy Bridgewater
Favorite: Louisville by 13 points
Attendance: 55,386
The storyline: Behind the precision passing of Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and a dominant running game that put two rushers, Senorise Perry and Jeremy Wright, over 100 yards, the Cardinals throttled the Wildcats. U of L unleashed first-half touchdown drives of 99, 85 and 93 yards against a hapless UK defense and was never threatened.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
Kentucky’s final record: 2-10
Louisville’s final record: 11-2
2013: No. 7 Louisville 27, Kentucky 13
Date: Sept. 14
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Charlie Strong
Kentucky starting quarterback: Maxwell Smith
Louisville starting quarterback: Teddy Bridgewater
Favorite: Louisville by 14½ points
Attendance: 65,445
The storyline: A stiff Kentucky defense held Louisville to 10 first-half points but the Cardinals wore the Cats down behind a power-rushing attack (242 yards on the ground) and Teddy Bridgewater’s passing (16-of-28, 250 yards). UK’s Air Raid 2.0 offense was plagued by dropped passes and lost starting QB Maxwell Smith to a shoulder injury in the second half.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
Kentucky’s final record: 2-10
Louisville’s final record: 12-1
2014: No. 24 Louisville 44, Kentucky 40
Date: Nov. 29
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Bobby Petrino
Kentucky starting quarterback: Patrick Towles
Louisville starting quarterback: Reggie Bonnafon
Favorite: Louisville by 14 points
Attendance: 55,118
The storyline: A wild pregame melee between both teams led into an even crazier game. With Louisville down 13-0, former Lexington Catholic star Kyle Bolin came off the bench to replace an injured Reggie Bonnafon at quarterback for the Cardinals. Bolin sparked U of L to a comeback victory over his hometown team by throwing for 381 yards and three touchdowns. Former Ballard High School star DeVante Parker caught six passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns for Louisville.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: DeVante Parker, Louisville
Kentucky’s final record: 5-7
Louisville’s final record: 9-3
2015: Louisville 38, Kentucky 24
Date: Nov. 28
Site: Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Bobby Petrino
Kentucky starting quarterback: Drew Barker
Louisville starting quarterback: Kyle Bolin
Favorite: Louisville by 5½ points
Attendance: 62,512
The storyline: With Louisville trailing 21-0, true freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson replaced an ineffective Kyle Bolin and rallied the Cardinals to a 38-24 comeback victory. Jackson sliced the Kentucky defense with his legs (186 yards rushing, two touchdowns) and his arm (130 yards passing, one TD) in leading the Cardinals to their fifth straight win over the Wildcats.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Kentucky’s final record: 5-7
Louisville’s final record: 8-5
2016: Kentucky 41, No. 11 Louisville 38
Date: Nov. 26
Site: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Bobby Petrino
Kentucky starting quarterback: Stephen Johnson
Louisville starting quarterback: Lamar Jackson
Favorite: Louisville by 27 points
Attendance: 54,075
The storyline: Unheralded Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns and Austin MacGinnis booted a 47-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to give UK a 41-38 upset over U of L. Louisville star quarterback Lamar Jackson — only weeks from winning the Heisman Trophy — threw for 287 yards and two scores and ran for 171 yards and two TDs. However, the Cards could not overcome the sophomore QB’s four turnovers (three interceptions, one damaging lost fumble).
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Stephen Johnson, Kentucky
Kentucky’s final record: 7-6
Louisville’s final record: 9-4
2017: Louisville 44, Kentucky 17
Date: Nov. 25
Site: Kroger Field (formerly Commonwealth Stadium)
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Bobby Petrino
Kentucky starting quarterback: Stephen Johnson
Louisville starting quarterback: Lamar Jackson
Favorite: Louisville by 10 points
Attendance: 56,186
Storyline: Lamar Jackson ran for 156 yards and threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns as Louisville scored points on all eight drives (five TDs, three field goals) that the reigning Heisman Trophy winner directed to emphatically avenge the prior season’s Kentucky upset victory.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Kentucky’s final record: 7-6
Louisville’s final record: 8-5
2018: No. 17 Kentucky 56, Louisville 10
Date: Nov. 24
Site: Cardinal Stadium (formerly Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium)
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Lorenzo Ward (interim head man)
Kentucky starting quarterback: Terry Wilson
Louisville starting quarterback: Malik Cunningham
Favorite: Kentucky by 17 points
Attendance: 49,998
Storyline: Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 79 yards and another score as the Wildcats pulverized Louisville.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Terry Wilson, Kentucky.
Kentucky’s final record: 10-3
Louisville’s final record: 2-10
2019: Kentucky 45, Louisville 13
Date: Nov. 30
Site: Kroger Field
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Scott Satterfield
Kentucky starting quarterback: Lynn Bowden
Louisville starting quarterback: Micale (nee Malik) Cunningham
Favorite: Kentucky by three points
Attendance: 48,336
Storyline: Kentucky “wide receiver playing quarterback” Lynn Bowden ran for 284 yards and four touchdowns to ruin Scott Satterfield’s Governor’s Cup debut. The Wildcats dominated both lines of scrimmage, running for a school-record 517 yards on offense and recording a whopping 13 tackles for loss on defense.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Lynn Bowden, Kentucky
Kentucky’s final record: 8-5
Louisville’s final record: 8-5
2020: No game played
Storyline: Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the protocols implemented to prevent the spread of the virus, Southeastern Conference teams such as Kentucky played only other SEC foes during the 2020 regular season.
2021: Kentucky 52, Louisville 21-*
Date: Nov. 28
Site: Cardinal Stadium
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Scott Satterfield
Kentucky starting quarterback: Will Levis
Louisville starting quarterback: Malik (nee Micale) Cunningham
Favorite: Louisville by one point
Attendance: 55,018
Storyline: Kentucky quarterback Will Levis ran for 113 yards and four touchdowns and completed 14 of 18 passes for 149 yards to lead UK to its third straight blowout win in the battle for the Governor’s Cup. Christopher Rodriguez ran for 121 yards and a score as the Wildcats dominated the Cardinals in rushing yardage, 362-144.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Will Levis, Kentucky
Kentucky’s final record: 10-3-*
Louisville’s final record: 6-7
*-The NCAA subsequently ordered Kentucky to vacate all 10 of its 2021 victories due to NCAA rules violations by UK.
2022: Kentucky 26, No. 25 Louisville 13
Date: Nov. 26
Site: Kroger Field
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Scott Satterfield
Kentucky starting quarterback: Will Levis
Louisville starting quarterback: Brock Domann
Favorite: Kentucky by three points
Attendance: 58,727
Storyline: The Kentucky defense forced three Louisville turnovers, UK place-kicker Matt Ruffolo booted four field goals and Will Levis threw two touchdown passes as the Wildcats retained the Governor’s Cup for a fourth straight time. U of L’s Jawhar Jordan ran for 145 yards in defeat.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: Matt Ruffolo, Kentucky
Kentucky’s final record: 7-6
Louisville’s final record: 8-5
2023: Kentucky 38, No. 9 Louisville 31
Date: Nov. 26
Site: L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (formerly Cardinal Stadium)
Kentucky coach: Mark Stoops
Louisville coach: Jeff Brohm
Kentucky starting quarterback: Devin Leary
Louisville starting quarterback: Jake Plummer
Favorite: Louisville by 7½ points
Attendance: 59,225
Storyline: Kentucky upset No. 9 Louisville and ruined Jeff Brohm’s Governor’s Cup coaching debut by rallying from 10 down in the second half to win. UK OLB/rush end J.J. Weaver made eight tackles, recovered two fumbles, forced a fumble and recorded a quarterback sack. UK running back Ray Davis ran for 76 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 51 yards and two TDs. Davis’ 37-yard run for a TD with 1:02 left was the game winner.
Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award: J.J. Weaver, Kentucky
Kentucky’s final record: 7-6
Louisville’s final record: 10-4
