Kentucky players to watch against Louisville

The final game of the season has arrived for 2025. Kentucky has a lot to play for in the Governor’s Cup against Louisville. Bowl eligibility, another bounce-back opportunity, and the Vince Marrow angle all stand out. It would be a stunner if the Wildcats didn’t have a lot of motivation for this one.

Louisville enters the contest riding a three-game losing streak and is extremely short-handed on offense. However, Kentucky still has to go make the plays to win this game. Who could be the players making those game-swinging plays?

These are the individuals that KSR will be watching closely at the artist formerly known as Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Kentucky needs a better rushing performance

Seth McGowan finished Kentucky’s loss to Vanderbilt with just 31 yards from scrimmage. That was a season-low by far for the veteran tailback. The ground game was a disaster for Kentucky in last weekend’s loss. That must be fixed this week.

Louisville’s run defense (No. 29 in rushing success rate, No. 34 in EPA/rush) has been solid all season. No one has reached 200 rushing yards against this unit and multiple offenses have been held under 100 yards. Kentucky does not need to have a huge game on the ground but they can’t have what happened last week.

McGowan has been UK’s clear RB1 all season and that likely does not change on Saturday. UK will need a solid and efficient game from their traditional run game. This offense could get in trouble against a pressure-heavy Louisville defense if they have to get pass-heavy.

If No. 3 has a good game, the offense likely has a good game.

Kentucky will need some better play at cornerback

Kentucky is extremely thin in the secondary right now. That will likely remain the case on Saturday. However, UK cannot have what happened last week against Vanderbilt.

The Wildcats simply need better play in coverage. That means better play at cornerback. Louisville will likely be unable to drive the football down the field like Tennessee and Vanderbilt, but they will challenge Kentucky’s cornerbacks even without star wide receiver Chris Bell.

JQ Hardaway, Grant Grayton, and whoever else is in coverage must step up and make some plays. Due to their personnel situation, Louisville should have a very difficult time putting long scoring drives together. The Cards will need some big explosive plays to create scoring opportunities. Those probably need to come through the air. They cannot come through the air for Kentucky’s cornerbacks make some plays in coverage.

Kentucky needs solid play at offensive tackle

The strength of Louisville’s team is on the defensive front. Kentucky cannot allow them to wreck this game. Coastal Carolina transfer Clev Lubin (50 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 53 pressures) and Rutgers transfer Wesley Bailey (37 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 40 pressures) are both having outstanding seasons.

Kentucky lost the line of scrimmage battle last week. If that occurs again this weekend, Louisville’s pressure-heavy 4-2-5 defense could give UK a ton of problems.

The Wildcats will need solid play from right tackle Alex Wollschaleger and left tackle Shiyazh Pete on Saturday. UK will need to do a much better job picking up pressures from the second and third levels because Louisville will very likely try to replicate Vandy’s game plan, but the most dangerous players for UofL are on the edge. Kentucky must get Lubin and Bailey blocked.

Kentucky’s tackles will be challenged. If they struggle, the Cats will be in some trouble throughout the game.

Can Kentucky gets some turnovers?

Over the last five meetings of this rivalry series, the team that wins the turnover battle ended up winning the game. Meanwhile, both offenses enter Saturday with some ball security issues. Kentucky has had multiple turnovers in seven games this season. Louisville has lost a turnover in every game this year.

Ball security will be pivotal for Kentucky’s offense, but so will takeaway generation. A big turnover or two could totally flip this game.

Ty Bryant enters Saturday ranked No. 10 nationally in interceptions (four). The junior safety leads the SEC in picks. All of these have come against power conference competition. Another one this weekend could play a big part in a win for the road team.

Louisville quarterback Miller Moss has struggled with ball security all season. If he can’t go, redshirt freshman Deuce Adams will make his second career start. If UK can confuse the young quarterback, some poor throws against zone coverage could lead to a big turnover.