Is the future of the UL-UK football game doomed?

entropy13

All-American
Apr 27, 2010
3,872
7,344
113
I like the rivalry, but the game always benefitted little brother's program more than it did ours. It was an important piece in them building up to eventual power conference membership (first Big East, now ACC) from the Metro East Charity Minor Commuter School conference or whatever they were in before.

Let their program rot.
 

Catastic5

All-Conference
Sep 12, 2026
412
1,042
93
I like the rivalry, but the game always benefitted little brother's program more than it did ours. It was an important piece in them building up to eventual power conference membership (first Big East, now ACC) from the Metro East Charity Minor Commuter School conference or whatever they were in before.

Let their program rot.
Hopefully the politicians in Frankfort don’t try to force us to keep the game. We have enough Louisville-friendly politicians in Kentucky as it is.
 

shockdaddy19

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2012
761
1,095
73
There is no reason to keep that game and frankly, it does nothing for us. That game doesn’t improve our SOS in any capacity as the ACC is mediocre at best. Line up with the Big 10 and call it a day. And just being brutally honest, that game has zero relevance on the national level as not one person outside of Kentucky cares about it. Keep the basketball game, move on from football.
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
20,850
37,321
113
I hope it goes away. Variety will be nice. Dont expect some sexy big 10 team for UK most years though. We will get some random team and hey that probably means easier game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cowtown Cat

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
12,071
20,832
103
I hope it goes away. Variety will be nice. Dont expect some sexy big 10 team for UK most years though. We will get some random team and hey that probably means easier game.
That depends on KY’s status in the SEC. If we start finishing in the top 5 of the SEC year in and year out then we can expect to get paired with a similar big 10 opponent.
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
20,850
37,321
113
That depends on KY’s status in the SEC. If we start finishing in the top 5 of the SEC year in and year out then we can expect to get paired with a similar big 10 opponent.

Maybe. Still think they pair the biggest brand names with each other most years. Even if we have some success, we arent beating out Bama, lsu, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, etc n terms of brand names.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
12,071
20,832
103
Maybe. Still think they pair the biggest brand names with each other most years. Even if we have some success, we arent beating out Bama, lsu, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, etc n terms of brand names.
Could be right but it hasn’t taken anytime at all for Bama and Florida to get the marquee hoops matchups with the ACC. Meanwhile we are playing Clemson.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cowtown Cat

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
16,827
17,609
113
I would like to see Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame play at Kroger field sometime.

All-Time Head-to-Head Records

OpponentMeetingsRecord (UK-Opponent)Years Played
Ohio State Buckeyes30–31895, 1919, 1935
Michigan Wolverines10–11908
Notre Dame Fighting Irish00–0Never played
  • Nov 15, 1895: Ohio State 8, Kentucky 6 (Lexington, KY)
  • Oct 18, 1919: Ohio State 49, Kentucky 0 (Columbus, OH)
  • Oct 5, 1935: Ohio State 19, Kentucky 6 (Columbus, OH)

  • Nov 7, 1908: Michigan 62, Kentucky 0 (Ann Arbor, MI)

  • The Wildcats and the Fighting Irish have never met on the football field.
 
Last edited:
Jul 6, 2025
2,829
7,607
113
I like the rivalry, but the game always benefitted little brother's program more than it did ours. It was an important piece in them building up to eventual power conference membership (first Big East, now ACC) from the Metro East Charity Minor Commuter School conference or whatever they were in before.

Let their program rot.

This. They literally live for our game because its their one chance at validity. Meanwhile we're playing at least 9 other games that are all insanely challenging.
 

RocknRollCats

All-Conference
Jan 30, 2011
3,810
4,396
111
If that happens, it permanently relegates every team not in the SEC or B10 to second tier or lower status.

Even Notre Dame and an independent Miami would hardly be relevant as who from the SEC or B10 would reasonably schedule them in the future.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
12,071
20,832
103
What the hell. Why would any of us want this game axed? It is a rivalry game that both teams have had success in. We better keep it.
It’s kept if things stand as they are but if an annual game is added to our schedule with a Big 10 opponent there really isn’t much choice but to drop if we stay with a 9 game SEC schedule. 10-12 P4 opponents is difficult enough, you don’t need an 11th game against a formidable opponent. If we were in the ACC that’s a different story as 75% of the conference is worse than our bottom 4. Easier games are needed on our schedule. I’d prefer 3 but got to keep 2 at least.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cat_Man_Blue

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,381
4,144
113
It’s kept if things stand as they are but if an annual game is added to our schedule with a Big 10 opponent there really isn’t much choice but to drop if we stay with a 9 game SEC schedule. 10-12 P4 opponents is difficult enough, you don’t need an 11th game against a formidable opponent. If we were in the ACC that’s a different story as 75% of the conference is worse than our bottom 4. Easier games are needed on our schedule. I’d prefer 3 but got to keep 2 at least.
It’s more about losing a home game every 2 years than any opponent.
 

vhcat1970

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
3,728
2,902
113
I'd rather beat them to a pulp for the next several years, then dump them.

The truth is, Louisville has had it pretty easy. Kentucky failed to put the proper emphasis on football for much of this series. Those days are over. I'd like to crush them before moving on.
If the other thread is right, we're spending near as much NIL on men's hoops as football. If true, that's not football emphasis.
 

vhcat1970

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
3,728
2,902
113
If that happens, it permanently relegates every team not in the SEC or B10 to second tier or lower status.

Even Notre Dame and an independent Miami would hardly be relevant as who from the SEC or B10 would reasonably schedule them in the future.
I think ultimately the B1G adds two more schools & SEC adds 4. Those 40 wipe all the rest.

If true, who are the 6? B1G & SEC will have a CTJM (lol) with ND & say join or we won't schedule you. They will. So 5 more. To me, only NC is a sure bet. Anyone else has negatives. My guess is VA - big markets; one of FSU, Miami(private), UCF (biggest school in FL by far); TT or Houston; AZ St or maybe BYU(private) I don't see Clemson b/c SC isn't a big population state for a 2nd school.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cat_Man_Blue

RocknRollCats

All-Conference
Jan 30, 2011
3,810
4,396
111
I think ultimately the B1G adds two more schools & SEC adds 4. Those 40 wipe all the rest.

If true, who are the 6? B1G & SEC will have a CTJM (lol) with ND & say join or we won't schedule you. They will. So 5 more. To me, only NC is a sure bet. Anyone else has negatives. My guess is VA - big markets; one of FSU, Miami(private), UCF (biggest school in FL by far); TT or Houston; AZ St or maybe BYU(private) I don't see Clemson b/c SC isn't a big population state for a 2nd school.
CTJM. Nice touch.
 
Oct 13, 2025
261
437
63
The KY-Lou game favors KY as long as Stein stays. Lose Stein and KY may trend back to its historic average, making the game with Louisville a toss up again. IMO the rivalry has the edge vs some randomized Big10 game, which would probably usually be against the lower ranks of the Big10 schools. That all said, if the SEC and Big10 are indeed working on guaranteed games, then the KY-Lou game definitely goes away.
 

Howard_Stacey

Redshirt
Apr 6, 2018
36
34
11
Is it?! I think there’s a lot of validity to that statement. Lmao created an account just to post this?! We own Louisville in basketball and currently have the edge in football during the series. Also, the ACC is garbage!
Yes, it’s comical. UofL doesn’t need validity from UK, of all schools. It beat the national runner up last season, and Notre Dame just two seasons ago.

Take out the games when football was played in leather helmets, and the series is pretty even since being resumed in 1994.
 

Anon722800

Sophomore
Oct 17, 2026
105
101
18
Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I’m kind of surprised the consensus of the board seems excited about the SEC and Big 10 trying to push every other conference out of the sport. I’d prefer our traditional rivalry game to whatever NFL Jr. format they’re trying to cook up.
Some of these dopes aren't really too smart
 
Aug 4, 2025
536
761
93
It’s not a huge game. I’m not necessarily for or against it. Maybe play them every 2-3 years on our terms. If they want to see us more than that they can join the SEC or BIG!

Lot of games have gotten stale and the sport needs to change things up.

Conference shake up was way over due. Glad we’re not playing all the same old division opponents every year.

Might as well shake up OOC as well.
 
KSR

Latest

  1. 01 KSR Football Kentucky Digs Out of 10-Point Hole to Lead Vanderbilt at Halftime
  2. 02 KSR Football LIVE BLOG: No. 12 Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt
  3. 03 KSR Five Things You Need to Know About the Vanderbilt Commodores
  4. 04 KSR Football Get ready for Kentucky vs Vanderbilt under the lights with the KSR Pregame Show
  5. 05 Rivals Football Recruiting Top 50 QB Josiah Boyd commits to UCLA, 'I'm staying home'