The Final Prep: Governor's Cup Edition

by: Drew Franklin8 minutes agoDrewFranklinKSR

It’s the Governor’s Cup time in the Bluegrass, and whatever mess these two teams dragged with them into the final week, none of it matters now. The rivalry wipes the slate clean. Louisville’s meltdown, Kentucky’s inconsistency, angry message boards on both sides. It’s all irrelevant once the ball is kicked. This one is about the trophy and the bragging rights.

For Kentucky, it’s a shot at bowl eligibility and a chance to reclaim the Cup after last year’s embarrassment. For Louisville, it’s about stopping a freefall to end the year. The stakes are real, the hatred is real, and the Governor’s Cup doesn’t care about records, only who shows up ready to fight.

The fight begins at noon on the ACC Network. Let’s get you ready for it.

Pregame Storylines

Bowl eligibility on the line: The Wildcats enter the Governor’s Cup at 5-6, needing one more win to return to the postseason. Last year snapped the run of eight straight bowl games. A loss Saturday would make this a second straight season home for the holidays.
Louisville’s collapse has fans furious: A month ago, Louisville fans were dreaming of the College Football Playoff, some even pumping their chests as if they were already in. Now the Cards limp into rivalry week on a three-game losing streak, with fans openly frustrated and Jeff Brohm facing the first true turbulence of his tenure. A win over Kentucky would stop the bleeding. A loss would further the meltdown into a bowl game and the offseason.
Louisville is severely short-handed: The Cards could again be without multiple top skill players, including star running back Isaac Brown, who gashed Kentucky for 178 yards and two touchdowns last year, plus WR Chris Bell, WR Caullin Lacy, and possibly both remaining scholarship RBs. Louisville’s offense is a mess.
Multiple QBs for the Cards: Louisville starting quarterback Miller Moss is also questionable after a foot injury sidelined him last week, and reports indicate he could miss the Governor’s Cup or play limited snaps if he’s available. If Moss can’t go, the Cards will turn to backups Deuce Adams or Brady Allen to lead an already injury-riddled offense.
Boley revenge game: Cutter Boley’s first career start came in last year’s Governor’s Cup loss, when he was thrown into an ugly situation that got uglier in a hurry. He was benched in the second half of the loss. A year later, he returns as Kentucky’s unquestioned starter in the midst of a breakout season. This is his chance to rewrite his story in the rivalry.
Kentucky owns Louisville’s home field: Mark Stoops is 4-1 in Louisville, winning four in a row since the upset in 2016. The road team has won seven of nine in the series.
Kentucky’s streak ended last year: Louisville snapped Kentucky’s five-game win streak in the series with last year’s blowout in Lexington. The Wildcats haven’t forgotten that beating. Revenge is on the table as UK tries to reclaim the Governor’s Cup.

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Kentucky vs. Louisville: How to Watch/Listen

Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network (Jorge Sedano, Rodney McLeod, and Victoria Allen)
Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel)
AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
FM: 98.1 WBUL
Online: iHeart Radio
Sirius XM: 160 or 191

Player Spotlight

Kentucky QB, #8 Cutter Boley: Boley returns to the Governor’s Cup a very different quarterback from the overmatched freshman who made his first career start in last year’s rivalry game. Now a redshirt freshman with more than 2,000 passing yards, 17 total touchdowns, and three SEC Freshman of the Week honors, he’s the leader of Kentucky’s offense and the biggest reason the Cats have won three of their last four. If Kentucky is going bowling, it likely hinges on Boley playing clean, confident football in his second shot at Louisville.
Kentucky RB, #3 Seth McGowan: Part of UK’s 1-2 punch in the backfield, McGowan is tied for third in the SEC and 21st in the nation in TDs rushing (12) and seventh in the SEC in rushing yardage (72.0 yards per game).
Kentucky WR, #1 Kendrick Law: The senior transfer from Alabama had a career day two weeks ago, with 11 catches for 124 yards. He and the offense cooled off in the loss at Vanderbilt, but Law was a big part of the three-game win streak. He leads Kentucky with 50 catches for 524 yards and three touchdowns.
Louisville QB, #7 Miller Moss: Moss is a game-time decision after a foot injury suffered in the weight room kept him out against SMU. When healthy, he’s thrown for 2,344 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he’s also turned it over seven times and publicly questioned his own locker room two weeks ago. Louisville fans wanted more from the USC transfer.
Louisville LB, #34 TJ Quinn: Quinn leads the Cardinals in tackles, tallying 77 on the season with three games of 10 or more. The fifth-year senior, who spent all five seasons in Louisville, also has two INTs and a sack. He had four tackles and a half-sack in last year’s Governor’s Cup.
Louisville RB, #46 Braxton Jennings: With four running backs on the mend, Louisville will likely turn to Braxton Jennings, a true freshman walk-on, to carry the football. Jennings is from Ashland, Kentucky, and has 17 carries in 2025 for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Injury/Availability Reports

We won’t get an official report because it’s not an SEC game this week. However, Louisville is wrecked on the offensive side of the ball, as we’ve mentioned, and Kentucky’s defense was without five defensive backs last week at Vanderbilt. The status of Alex Afari Jr., who was a game-time scratch in Nashville, will be significant for UK’s defense.

Nov 30, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals defensive lineman Ramon Puryear (41) and Louisville Cardinals defensive back Jathan Hatch (31) hold up the Governor’s Cup trophy after winning against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Last Meeting / All-Time Series

Kentucky’s five-year Governor’s Cup streak ended last November in a 41-14 Louisville win at Kroger Field. The Wildcats’ long afternoon began early with a fumble on the first drive, one of five Kentucky turnovers on the day. Louisville capitalized on the mistakes, running for 358 yards in the blowout.

Cutter Boley made his first career start and endured a rough day, finishing 6-of-15 for 48 yards with two interceptions before handing the job off to Gavin Wimsatt in the second half. Louisville controlled the line of scrimmage, stopped all nine of Kentucky’s third-down attempts, and claimed the Cup for the first time since 2017.

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All-time series: Kentucky leads 20-16

2025 Team Schedules/Results

Kentucky (5-6, 2-6 SEC)

vs. Toledo (W, 24-16)
vs. #20 Ole Miss. (L, 30-23)
vs. Eastern Michigan (W, 48-23)
at South Carolina (L, 35-13)
at #12 Georgia (L, 35-14)
vs. #21 Texas (L, 16-13 OT)
vs. #17 Tennessee (L, 56-34)
at Auburn (W, 10-3)
vs. Florida (W, 38-7)
vs. Tennessee Tech (W, 42-10)
at #14 Vanderbilt (L, 45-17)
at Louisville

Louisville (7-4, 4-4 ACC)

vs. Eastern Kentucky (W, 51-17)
vs. James Madison (W, 28-14)
vs. Bowling Green (W, 40-17)
@ Pittsburgh (W, 34-27)
vs. #24 Virginia (L, 30-27)
@ #2 Miami (W, 24-21)
vs. Boston College (W, 38-24)
@ Virginia Tech (W, 28-16)
vs. California (L, 29-26)
vs. Clemson (L, 20-19)
@ SMU (L, 38-6)
vs. Kentucky

Join The Discussion over at KSBoard

Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard to interact with the KSR crew during the game. A live discussion can be found in the game thread, plus several other topics and conversations about the Wildcats and more.

Point Spread

Point Spread: Louisville -3
Over/Under: 45.5
Moneyline: Louisville -148 / Kentucky +124

Coach Comments

Mark Stoops

Kentucky Players and Coordinators

Jeff Brohm

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Pregame Link Dump

Weather Report

It’ll be colder than the excitement around each team when they kick off Saturday afternoon in Louisville. Look for near-freezing temps, which will likely deter the flakey home crowd from attending. So, get in there, Blue. Wear a coat.

KSR’s Staff Predictions

The office does not lack confidence.

Listen to the KSR Pregame Show

Wake up with the KSR Pregame Show at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday as we preview the game and take your calls before the Governor’s Cup. Tune in live on WLAP.com.

Go Cats. Ls down.