Last updated: November 1, 2026
The Governor’s Cup returns to Kroger Field on Saturday, November 28, 2026, for the next chapter of the Louisville vs Kentucky rivalry, the state’s biggest football game. Louisville has won the last two meetings, including a 41-0 shutout last November, while Kentucky enters under first-year coach Will Stein, whose team has already pulled an upset of LSU.
Quick summary
- Kentucky leads the all-time series 19-17 through 2025, after its 2021 win was vacated.
- Louisville leads the modern Governor’s Cup series 17-13 since the rivalry resumed in 1994.
- Louisville won 41-14 in Lexington in 2024 and 41-0 in Louisville in 2025.
- The 2026 game is November 28 at Kroger Field; kickoff is to be announced.
Governor’s Cup Series at a Glance
- All-time record: Kentucky leads 19-17 (37 meetings)
- Since 1994: Louisville leads 17-13
- First meeting: October 26, 1912, Kentucky 41, Louisville 0 in Lexington
- Last meeting: November 29, 2025, Louisville 41, Kentucky 0 in Louisville
- Trophy: the Governor’s Cup since 1994; the winning team’s MVP receives the Howard Schnellenberger Award (since 2010)
- Hosting: Kentucky hosts in even years, Louisville in odd years
The series was suspended after 1924 and did not return for about 70 years, according to the Governor’s Cup history. When it resumed in 1994, Kentucky agreed only if the first four games were played in Lexington.
Recent Results
- 2025: Louisville 41, Kentucky 0 (Louisville)
- 2024: Louisville 41, Kentucky 14 (Lexington)
- 2023: Kentucky 38, Louisville 31 (Louisville)
- 2022: Kentucky 26, Louisville 13 (Lexington)
- 2021: Kentucky 52, Louisville 21 (Louisville), later vacated
- 2019: Kentucky 45, Louisville 13 (Lexington)
- 2018: Kentucky 56, Louisville 10 (Louisville)
- 2017: Louisville 44, Kentucky 17 (Lexington)
Four Games That Define the Louisville vs Kentucky Rivalry
2000: the only overtime game
Louisville won 40-34 in overtime on a walk-off touchdown by Tony Stallings, still the only extra session in series history.
2016: Kentucky stuns Lamar Jackson
Kentucky upset No. 11 Louisville 41-38 in Louisville, recovering a Jackson fumble with 1:45 left and kicking the winning field goal. Jackson won the Heisman Trophy that season anyway.
2019: Lynn Bowden’s day
Playing quarterback, Bowden ran for 284 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries in a 45-13 Kentucky win and took home the Schnellenberger MVP award.
2024-25: Louisville takes control
The Cardinals won 41-14 at Kroger Field in 2024, then shut Kentucky out 41-0 in 2025.
The 2026 Teams
Kentucky hired Will Stein on December 1, 2025, after he served as Oregon’s offensive coordinator, replacing Mark Stoops. Stein’s first team upset LSU and has made Kentucky one of the SEC’s surprise stories. Follow quarterback Kenny Minchey and the rest of the Kentucky football roster on RallyFuel.
Louisville, under Jeff Brohm, plays in the ACC and has won two straight in the series. Follow the Louisville football roster, including receiver Lawayne McCoy.
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for Kentucky vs. Louisville on RallyFuel (Nov. 28)
What to Watch in the 2026 Louisville vs Kentucky Game
- Can Kentucky flip the script? After being outscored 82-14 over the last two meetings, the Wildcats get the game at home under a new coach.
- Louisville’s chance at three straight: A third consecutive win would extend the Cardinals’ edge in the Governor’s Cup era.
- Rivalry-week stakes: As the regular-season finale for both teams, the game can shape bowl positioning and settle bragging rights in the state for a full year.
The Louisville vs Kentucky game has swung hard in recent years: Kentucky won five straight on the field from 2018 to 2023, then Louisville answered with two decisive wins. That pattern makes this year’s meeting one of the most interesting games of rivalry week in the South.
Game day in Lexington
Kroger Field hosts the rivalry in even years, so Kentucky fans get the home crowd this season. With kickoff time and TV still to be announced, check both schools’ athletics sites the week of the game, and plan for heavy Thanksgiving-weekend traffic around campus.
The NIL Angle
Both schools have reshaped how they pay athletes since revenue sharing began in 2025. Read our Kentucky NIL guide, Kentucky NIL laws explained, and Louisville men’s basketball NIL deals for the hardwood side of the rivalry.
FAQ
Who leads the Louisville vs Kentucky series?
Kentucky leads 19-17 all time through 2025, but Louisville leads 17-13 since the Governor’s Cup began in 1994.
When is the 2026 Governor’s Cup?
Saturday, November 28, 2026, at Kroger Field in Lexington.
Why was Kentucky’s 2021 win vacated?
Kentucky later vacated its 2021 wins, so the 52-21 result no longer counts in the official series record.
What is the Schnellenberger Award?
Since 2010, the Louisville Sports Commission has given the Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award to the top player on the winning team.
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