The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Governor's Cup

Louisville17-17Kentucky
Power Program III#28 of 138▲National Program II#43 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 28 · time TBA, 24 days away.

8 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

The series is dead even at 17-17. They've met 34 times since 1915. Louisville once took 5 straight.

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
Kentucky
Win total
7.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+4
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +21
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan thinks the team failed to convert crucial touchdowns near the goal line
There was a red zone drive earlier in the game where Kentucky was about on the 5 and had an empty set and the alignment by the defense was the same.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1915–2025

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 timeLouisvilleKentuckyevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Louisville won, gray: Kentucky won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

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

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

more passmore runLouisvilleKentucky2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262018Louisville 13.8 ptsKentucky won 56-102004Kentucky 10.0 ptsLouisville won 28-02023Kentucky 9.2 ptsKentucky won 38-31
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Kentucky by 73 in 1922. The biggest crowd, 70,857, was in 2007.

The coaching duels

Bobby Petrino vs Rich Brooks4-0
Bobby Petrino vs Mark Stoops3-1
John Smith vs Hal Mumme2-1
Steve Kragthorpe vs Rich Brooks0-3
Charlie Strong vs Joker Phillips2-1
Scott Satterfield vs Mark Stoops0-3

The draft ledger

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

Draft picks
97-98
Kentucky leads
1st-rounders
14-10
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
LouisvilleKentucky
1960s4-2
1970s7-16
1980s7-10
1990s11-15
2000s29-14
2010s25-16
2020s14-25

Best picks, either side

1999Tim Couch Quarterback · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1978Art Still Defensive End · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2003Dewayne Robertson Defensive Tackle · New York JetsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1977Warren Bryant Offensive Tackle · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
2019Josh Allen Outside Linebacker · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 1, pick 7#7 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

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Louisville1.19×its own average home crowd
2025Louisville41-0Kentucky — Kentucky routed by 41
2024Louisville41-14
2023Kentucky38-31
2022Kentucky26-13
2021Kentucky52-21Louisville — Louisville routed by 31
2019Kentucky45-13
2018Kentucky56-10
2017Louisville44-17
2016Kentucky41-38Louisville — Louisville favored by 26.0
2015Louisville38-24
2014Louisville44-40
2013Louisville27-13
2012Louisville32-14
2011Louisville24-17

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Louisville’s chance to win through that meeting.

2025Louisville 41-0Louisville won 41-0 vs Kentucky. Chance to win started at 53%, low 46%, high better than 99%.Steady
2024Louisville 41-14Louisville won 41-14 at Kentucky. Chance to win started at 61%, low 55%, high better than 99%.
2023Kentucky 38-31Louisville lost 31-38 vs Kentucky. Chance to win started at 64%, low 9%, high 90%.
2021Kentucky 52-21Louisville lost 21-52 vs Kentucky. Chance to win started at 47%, low under 1%, high 54%.
2019Kentucky 45-13Louisville lost 13-45 at Kentucky. Chance to win started at 48%, low under 1%, high 56%.
2018Kentucky 56-10Louisville lost 10-56 vs Kentucky. Chance to win started at 11%, low under 1%, high 17%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Moss is mostly pretty bad but he is legitimately incredible at QB sneaks. What a bizarre skillset”
    A Louisville fan

Meetings with their own story page

10 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.