Report: Louisville to play Cincinnati in Fenway Bowl in Boston

Louisville and Cincinnati reportedly have their Bowl Game selections set. According to The Athletic’s Justin Williams, Louisville and Cincinnati will face off in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in Fenway Park on Dec. 17. Here was the initial report from a Williams’ tweet:

“Cincinnati will play Louisville in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 17 at Fenway Park in Boston, sources tell @TheAthleticCFB.Return of the Keg of Nails. Kickoff is at 11 am EST. #Bearcats”

So, Cardinals vs. Bearcats in Fenway Park. Funny, the two programs are about a 90-minute drive down I-71 from one another, but they’ll travel all the way to Boston in order to rekindle their old rivalry flame. Which used be called the “Keg of Nails” back when the two were Big East and even brief AAC rivals.

More on Louisville, Cincinnati

Louisville just capped off its regular the way same they have during every year of the Scott Satterfield era…by losing handily to in-state rival Kentucky. This time, the Cards were dropped to 7-5 and as a result were awarded a spot in the Fenway Bowl facing off against slightly northern former rival Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, the Bearcats are definitely in for a less exciting postseason run than they experienced a year ago. Luke Fickell’s group got a crack at Alabama in the College Football Playoff, ultimately losing, but the game was a crowning moment for the Bearcat program.

Fast forward one year later and Cincinnati has no Desmond Ridder, no Luke Fickell, and already more losses this year than they had combined in the previous two. Still, Cincy went 9-3 in a so-so AAC and flirted with the top-25 for most of the season, while Louisville appeared just once and was swiftly sent back out of it after their trip to Lexington.

Fun matchup at the grand ol’ ballpark featuring a revived rivalry along the Ohio River Valley.