Louisville football is looking to take control in a massive rivalry game against Kentucky.
Show up early. Wear Red. Beat UK!
First Down: What to know
Who: Kentucky (6-5, 3-5) at Louisville (10-1, 7-1)
When: Saturday, November 24th | Noon ET
Where: L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium | Louisville, KY
What’s at Stake: Everything.
Series: Kentucky leads 19-15; Louisville leads modern series 15-13
Last Matchup: Kentucky won 26-13 in Lexington in 2022
Spread Check: Louisville -8 | O/U 50.5
Thread Check:
Weather: 43 and partly cloudy at kickoff
How to watch: ABC
How to listen: 93.9 FM in Louisville | ESPN Louisville app
Second Down: Depth Chart
Quarterback
13 Jack Plummer (6-5, 215, Sr.)
19 Brock Domann (6-2, 225, Sr.)
OR 15 Harrison Bailey (6-5, 230, Jr.)
OR 6 Evan Conley (6-2, 210, Sr.)
OR 10 Pierce Clarkson (6-1, 190, Fr.)
OR 12 Brady Allen (6-6, 220, R-Fr.)
Running Back
25 Jawhar Jordan (5-10, 185, R-Jr.)
4 Maurice Turner (5-10, 190, So.)
23 Isaac Guerendo (6-1, 225, Sr.)
Wide Receiver
1 Jamari Thrash (6-1, 180, R-Jr.)**
2 Jadon Thompson (6-2, 185, Jr.)
Wide Receiver
3 Kevin Coleman Jr. (5-11, 180, So.)
OR 9 Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (5-10, 170, Jr.)
Wide Receiver
7 Jimmy Calloway (6-0, 190, R-So.)
OR 0 Chris Bell (6-2, 225, So.)
Tight End
42 Josh Lifson (6-3, 235, Gr.)
OR 85 Nate Kurisky (6-3, 235, So.)
OR 84 Joey Gatewood (6-4, 245, R-Sr.)
OR 11 Jamari Johnson (6-5, 265, Fr.)
Left Tackle
55 Willie Tyler III (6-6, 320, R-Sr.)**
70 Trevonte Sylvester (6-6, 280, R-So.)
Left Guard
68 Michael Gonzalez (6-4, 305, Jr.)
67 John Paul Flores (6-4, 305, R-Sr.)
Center
61 Bryan Hudson (6-5, 305, R-Sr.)
51 Austin Collins (6-3, 290, R-So.)
Right Guard
51 Austin Collins (6-3, 290, R-So.)
71 Joshua Black (6-2, 280-R-Jr.)
Right Tackle
74 Eric Miller (6-7, 305, R-Sr.)
77 Vincent Lumia (6-2, 295, Sr.)
–
Defensive End
9 Ashton Gillotte (6-3, 270, Jr.)
15 Kameron Wilson (6-2, 230, R-So.)
32 Ryheem Craig (6-3, 235, R-So.)
Nose Tackle
99 Dezmond Tell (6-1, 290, Jr.)
OR 91 Tawfiq Thomas (6-4, 300, So.)
44 Selah Brown (6-2, 285, So.)
Defensive Tackle
41 Ramon Puryear (6-3, 270, R-Jr.)
58 Jeffery Clark (6-0, 290, R-Jr.)
OR 90 Jermayne Lole (6-3, 310, Gr.)
OR 93 Jared Dawson (6-2, 305, R-So.),
Leo (DE/LB)
14 Stephen Herron (6-3, 240, R-Sr.)
95 Mason Reiger (6-4, 250, Jr.)
15 Kameron Wilson (6-2, 230, R-So.)
12 Popeye Williams (6-3, 250, So.)
OR 98 Adonijah Green (6-6, 225, Fr.)
Middle Linebacker
24 Jaylin Alderman (6-1, 230, Jr.)
22 Keith Brown (6-2, 235, Jr.)
6 Stanquan Clark (6-3, 230, Fr.)
Weakside Linebacker
34 T.J. Quinn (6-1, 230, R-So.)
13 Gilbert Frierson (6-1, 220, R-Sr.)
17 Jackson Hamilton (6-1, 220, R-So.)
STAR (LB/S)
10 Benjamin Perry (6-3, 205, R-So.)
35 Antonio Watts (6-2, 225, So.)
Cornerback
2 Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (6-0, 190, Jr.)
29 Storm Duck (6-1, 200, R-Sr.)
Cornerback
3 Quincy Riley (6-0, 185, R-Jr.)
28 Trey Franklin (5-10, 185, R-Jr.)
30 Derrick Edwards III (5-11, 180, R-So.)
Free Safety
5 Josh Minkins (6-2, 200, Jr.)
11 Cam’Ron Kelly (6-2, 210, R-Sr.)
Free Safety
27 Devin Neal (6-0, 210, Jr.)
11 Cam’Ron Kelly (6-2, 210, R-Sr.)
Punter
40 Brock Travelstead (6-1, 205, Jr.)
OR 39 Carter Schwartz (6-4, 215, Fr.)
OR 93 Brady Hodges (6-1, 200, Jr.)
Placekicker
40 Brock Travelstead (6-1, 205, Jr.)
OR 92 Nick Lopez (6-1, 190, R-Sr.)
Holder
93 Brady Hodges (6-1, 200, Jr.)
39 Carter Schwartz (6-4, 215, Fr.)
Long Snapper
48 Shai Kochav (6-3, 240, R-So.)
32 Hayden Travelstead (6-0, 200, Fr.)
Kick Returner
25 Jawhar Jordan (5-10, 185, R-Jr.)
23 Isaac Guerendo (6-1, 225, Sr.)
Punt Returner
3 Kevin Coleman Jr. (5-11, 180, So.)
3 Quincy Riley (6-0, 185, R-Jr.)
9 Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (5-11, 170, Jr.)
Third Down: What to Watch For
Can Louisville football match Kentucky’s intensity?
A common theme for Louisville football in this rivalry game has been its ability to be ready to handle UK’s aggression and extra attention paid to the rivalry.
Kentucky has staked its identity under Mark Stoops in getting up for this game. Regardless of the season and talent level, Stoops and his staff have clearly placed an emphasis on being the aggressor and trying to set the tone- By any means necessary.
Even dating back to the Petrino era, Stoops’ teams did well to strike early. They jumped out to a 21-0 lead in 2015 and 14-7 lead in 2016.
The Cats took complete control of the series when Scott Satterfield came to Louisville, dominating in 2019 and 2021, and controlling the game in 2022.
Kentucky has been known to pick fights, try to get in the Cards’ head, and try anything and everything to gain an advantage.
Stoops has treated this like a true rivalry game. But, perhaps he has met his match in Jeff Brohm.
Brohm understands the magnitude of the rivalry game. The question will be whether or not the Cards can drown out the noise and lock in this season.
A game won and lost in the trenches
Part of the reason that Kentucky has been so dominant of late is its ability to win this game on the offensive and defensive lines.
However, in recent years, Louisville football has done well to match UK’s size and athleticism up front.
This season, Kentucky has continued its solid play on the lines, but Louisville has been equally, if not more impressive.
Defensively, the Cards are 36th in sacks while the Cats are 55th nationally. The teams are tied at 34th with 69 tackles for loss vs FBS opponents.
Offensively, both teams have done well to protect the quarterback in 2023 and Kentucky thrived in the run game early while Louisville football has developed into a run-first squad.
This game is likely decided in the trenches,
Kentucky rush D vs. Louisville running backs
Something’s got to give.
Kentucky is top 25 in stopping the run this season. The Cats have allowed only 94 yards per game over the last 3.
Louisville football is running the at an efficient rate. The Cards average 171 rush yards per game, and 191 per game over the last 3. They are also averaging a gaudy 5.6 yards per attempt over the last 3.
UofL found other ways to be successful against stout rush defenses in Virginia and Miami, but the Cards have a chance to really open things up with a solid rushing attack early.
Fourth Down: Predictions
Vincent Lococo: 24-10, Cards
Matt McGavic: 35-21, Cards
Jacob Lane: 28-17, Cards
Presley Meyer: 41-21, Cards
