The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Keg of Nails

Louisville23-22-1Cincinnati
Power Program III#28 of 138▲National Program II#48 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
8 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Louisville leads the all-time series 23-22-1. They've met 46 times since 1966. Louisville has won the last 3.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Louisville
Win total
7.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -14
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe Louisville's running backs are faster than average
I’m imagining an all-time Louisville team with Lamar at QB and Isaac at RB. Would be the most unstoppable running backfield of all time.
Verified verbatim
Cincinnati
Win total
6.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -3
What fans are saying · program direction
One fan believes Cincinnati failed to address Sorsby's gambling publicly
People act like Tech knew and recruited Sorsby despite his problem. They didn't. They just followed court orders. Cincinnati knew and played him for two years.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1966–2022

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeLouisvilleCincinnatievery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Louisville won, gray: Cincinnati won)1960198020002020

The identity war

Cincinnati has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Louisville led 10 and Cincinnati led 13.

more passmore runLouisvilleCincinnati2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262018Louisville 10.9 pts2009Cincinnati 10.4 ptsCincinnati won 41-102022Cincinnati 8.0 ptsLouisville won 24-7
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Louisville once won 5 in a row. The biggest win was Louisville by 63 in 2004. The biggest crowd, 53,271, was in 2012.

The coaching duels

John Smith vs Rick Minter4-1
Lee Corso vs Ray Callahan2-2
Howard Schnellenberger vs Dave Currey1-3
Howard Schnellenberger vs Tim Murphy3-1
Vince Gibson vs Ralph Staub2-0-1
Steve Kragthorpe vs Brian Kelly1-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
97-79
Louisville leads
1st-rounders
14-3
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
LouisvilleCincinnati
1960s4-3
1970s7-7
1980s7-3
1990s11-11
2000s29-18
2010s25-14
2020s14-23

Best picks, either side

2022Ahmad Gardner Cornerback · New York JetsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1969Greg Cook Quarterback · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
2007Amobi Okoye Defensive Tackle · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 10#10 overall
2020Mekhi Becton Offensive Tackle · New York JetsRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2016Sheldon Rankins Defensive Tackle · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 12#12 overall
1994Joe Johnson Defensive End · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 13#13 overall
2015DeVante Parker Wide Receiver · Miami DolphinsRd 1, pick 14#14 overall
2018Jaire Alexander Cornerback · Green Bay PackersRd 1, pick 18#18 overall

Recent meetings

2022LouisvilleFenway Bowl24-7
2013Louisville31-24
2012Louisville34-31Cincinnati — decided by 3
2011Cincinnati25-16
2010Cincinnati35-27
2009Cincinnati41-10
2008Cincinnati28-20
2007Louisville28-24
2006Louisville23-17
2005Louisville46-22
2004Louisville70-7
2003Louisville43-40Cincinnati — decided by 3
2002Cincinnati24-14
2001Louisville28-13