Louisville and Kentucky will continue their annual battle for The Governor’s Cup through the 2030 season, the Courier-Journal has reported.
A copy of the contract extension was obtained by the Courier-Journal from the University of Louisville via a state open records request.
Louisville and Kentucky were scheduled to play this season in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 28, 2020, but the game was canceled due to the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Rather than skip the contest in Louisville, the two schools have agreed to push back the previously agreed to games by one season.
As a result, Louisville will host Kentucky next season at Cardinal Stadium on Nov. 27, 2021. The Cardinals will also host the Wildcats in odd seasons through 2029, with the Wildcats playing host in even seasons beginning in 2022 and extending through 2030. Below are the series dates and locations:
- Nov. 27, 2021 – Louisville
- Nov. 26, 2022 – Lexington
- Nov. 25, 2023 – Louisville
- Nov. 30, 2024 – Lexington
- Nov. 29, 2025 – Louisville
- Nov. 28, 2026 – Lexington
- Nov. 27, 2027 – Louisville
- Nov. 25, 2028 – Lexington
- Nov. 24, 2029 – Louisville
- Nov. 30, 2030 – Lexington
Kentucky has dominated Louisville in the past two meetings, winning 56-10 in Louisville in 2018 and 45-13 in Lexington in 2019 to claim the Governor’s Cup for the third time in four seasons.
The two in-state rivals first met in 1912 and have played annually since 1994. Kentucky currently leads the all-time series 17-15.
Louisville opted out of playing in a bowl-game after finishing the 2020 season 4-7 overall and 3-7 in ACC play. Kentucky (4-6) is scheduled to play NC State in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021.
Louisville Cardinals
Kentucky Wildcats
Too bad Texas and Texas A&M can’t do the same……..same for Nebraska/Oklahoma, and Pitt/West Va.
I’m surprised at this, I figured the ACC was ticked off the SEC canceled these in-state rivalry games this year despite the ACC’s efforts to accommodate them, which I figured would put future editions of these contests in jeopardy. The cancellation occurred despite violating a South Carolina state law requiring Clemson and SC to play, a law which led to the downfall of the Southern Conference decades ago.
I love this series, along with Georgia v GT, Florida, FSU, SC vs Clemson as late season in state cross conference rivalry games. Come on Texas v Texas A&M, Iowa v Iowa St, Penn St v Pitt. Toss in a few border rivalries, Missouri v Illinois, Arkansas v Oklahoma St, Maryland vs West Virginia, Virginia Tech vs Tennessee, Nebraska v Oklahoma, etc. Schedule up!