LIVE BLOG: Kentucky vs. Louisville
It’s finally here: the Governor’s Cup. KSR’s new and improved LIVE BLOG will bring you all the sights and sounds from Kroger Field as Kentucky hosts Louisville (Noon ET, SEC Network).
This year’s Governor’s Cup feels a little different, as the Cats are not going to a bowl game for the first time since 2015. Still, the Cards are only a 3.5-point favorite and have lost the last five in the series, including last year’s 38-31 stunner at Cardinal Stadium. That should serve as a reminder that records don’t matter in rivalry games.
Will the Cats band together behind Cutter Boley, who was given the reins earlier this week? Or will the Cards win their first game in the series since 2017? Refresh the feed below for updates and our takes on the game, from both Kroger Field and the couch. You can also join the conversation on the KSBoard Game Thread or by texting your observations to 859-587-3828 (standard messaging rates apply).
Special thanks to today’s LIVE BLOG sponsor, Monticello Bank.
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FINAL: Louisville 41, Kentucky 14
11/30/2024 02:10:43 PMWe had to wait until the very end to get our first true shoving match of the game after Kentucky’s offense forced a turnover on downs against Louisville second-team offense in the red zone.
It’s officially the offseason in Lexington.
Another Kentucky turnover
11/30/2024 01:57:40 PMMake it five Kentucky turnovers in 55 snaps for the offense today. Quincy Riley makes a one-handed pick as Gavin Wimsatt and Hardley Gilmore IV appeared to have a miscommunication on a vertical throw.
Jeff Brohm is now emptying the bench on offense. This has been a complete beatdown.
Louisville pours it on
11/30/2024 01:52:40 PMLouisville did not wait long to answer that Kentucky touchdown. Isaac Brown sprints 67 yards over the left side of the offensive line to score Louisville fourth non-red zone touchdown of the game. Cards are hammering Kentucky with explosive plays.
Kentucky’s reeling run defense has now given up 305 rushing yards.
Louisville 41, Kentucky 14
Ja’Mori Maclin makes another big play
11/30/2024 01:48:36 PMThis one is ugly but Ja’Mori Maclin has had a strong close to the season. The North Texas transfer makes another competitive catch on a deep ball, breaks a tackle, and ends the drive in the endzone. The throw-and-catch travels 83 yards.
The lead is cut to three possessions.
Louisville 34, Kentucky 14
Kentucky’s passing game disappoints again
11/30/2024 01:38:02 PMAfter a long kickoff return from Barion Brown set up Kentucky at midfield, we got a Chip Trayanum sighting. After two runs created a first-and-10 at the Louisville 40, we saw Kentucky go dropback heavy.
The drive ended after three incompletion and one scramble short of the sticks where Gavin Wimsatt ran out of bounds instead of trying to make a tackler miss.
Louisville has a chance to run up this 34-7 score.
Louisville lands the knockout punch
11/30/2024 01:27:26 PMLouisville goes with six consecutive rushing plays after the Kentucky punt. Duke Watson scores his second explosive play touchdown with a 24-yard sprint to the endzone.
Cards are now up by 27 as we reach the end of the third quarter.
Another Kentucky three-and-out
11/30/2024 01:22:33 PMThat drive did not last long. Kentucky let Gavin Wimsatt dropback three times: incomplete, short completion, and incomplete. A bad bounce on an Aidan Laros turns into a 26-yard punt.
Louisville has yet another short field to start a possession.
There goes the comeback
11/30/2024 01:16:16 PMKentucky offense just cannot making mistakes. As soon as this game feels like it is shifting, Jamarion Wilcox loses another fumble and Louisville adds a defensive touchdown on a scoop-and-score.
Absolutely brutal.
Kentucky gets another third quarter stop
11/30/2024 01:12:20 PMAfter giving up a 15-yard completion over the middle on third-and-long, Kentucky’s defense bows up and gets a stop. A Zion Childress pressure and Maxwell Hairston pass breakup gets the ball back to the offense.
Kentucky will start another offensive drive inside their own 20.
Cards 20, Cats 7 | 5:09 3rd Quarter
Dane Key is out
11/30/2024 01:09:27 PMThe star junior receiver is now out of the game with an “upper body injury”. Kentucky will have to play this second half without its best offensive playmaker.
The Ja’Mori Maclin Drive
11/30/2024 01:01:25 PMWell, that’s something.
Kentucky puts Gavin Wimsatt in the game and quickly ends the drive in the paint. Ja’Mori Maclin created easy separation on a go-ball for a 34-yard gain to create a low red zone possession. The North Texas transfer then made an impressive grab on a four-yard touchdown connection.
Kentucky cuts Louisville’s lead to two possessions.
Gavin Wimsatt replaces Cutter Boley
11/30/2024 12:58:09 PMKentucky’s true freshman quarterback is shaken up on a third down hit. Gavin Wimsatt has replaced Cutter Boley after a targeting call. Kentucky now has a drive rolling.
Can the Cats finish?
Kentucky defense starts strong
11/30/2024 12:54:58 PMTwo consecutive havoc plays by the defense lead to a three-and-out. Kentucky’s offense is back on the field with Cutter Boley. We’ll see if they can get anything rolling.
Stoops cites turnovers for Kentucky’s first-half woes
11/30/2024 12:52:57 PMDuring his halftime interview with Dick Gabriel, Mark Stoops said turnovers are the “name of the game” so far for the Cats.
Domination by Louisville
11/30/2024 12:36:50 PMThe advanced metrics are not too kind to Kentucky. Louisville is hammering the Wildcats in everything. The havoc numbers produced by a middling at best Louisville defense are alarming. Cats are averaging four plays per possessions.
Will we see another quarterback change?
Sad First Half Stats
11/30/2024 12:30:31 PMLouisville has two sacks, five tackles for loss, and forced three turnovers. The Cats only have five first downs, and if we’re being honest with ourselves, they’re lucky to only be trailing 20-0 thanks to a pair of short Louisville field goals. Fans are leaving their seats at halftime and I’m not sure how many will return.
FUMBLE!
11/30/2024 12:23:50 PMLouisville tried getting tricky. Not sure why. Instead of delivering the knockout blow with a touchdown in the final minute, they tried a reverse and Kentucky was ready for it. The Cards coughed it up and Kentucky’s Jamon Dumas-Johnson recovered the turnover near midfield.
Can the Cats make something of this? Cutter Boley was immediately sacked, so I’m not hopeful.
Interception in the End Zone
11/30/2024 12:18:52 PMKentucky actually was doing some good things. As you’ll see below, Boley had a nice pass to Hardley Gilmore for a 29-yard gain. Kentucky was in the red zone with a third and long. The windows got too tight for the true freshman and he threw his second interception of the day. Boley was flagged for unnecessary roughness during the return, and now UofL has the ball near midfield. Cards can score one more time before halftime.
Louisville Didn’t Score a Touchdown!
11/30/2024 12:09:25 PMThere for a minute, it looked like the Cats received a dagger. Tyler Shough went deep to Chris Bell who made a grab over Maxwell Hairston to gain 51 yards. He needed three more to get into the end zone. That didn’t happen. There was a UofL drop and Hairston knocked a pass down to force fourth and four. Shockingly, Brohm didn’t go for the kill shot, instead electing to kick another short field goal to take a 20-0 lead.
The Kentucky Drive Chart is Depressing
11/30/2024 12:06:50 PMGross.
WORST CASE SCENARIO
11/30/2024 11:56:49 AMEverything that can go wrong has officially gone wrong. Duke Watson went untouched 58 yards for a touchdown. Louisville leads 17-0 and they’re just getting started. We still have more than 2.5 quarters of football to play. This could get ugly.
Putrid Kentucky Offense
11/30/2024 11:53:32 AMThe Wildcats went three-and-out, again. Cutter Boley was sacked on first down. His current stat line: 2-8 for 16 yards and an interception. Kentucky is averaging 3.2 yards per play and has only 3 first downs in 5 possessions. We’ve seen a lot of bad offense this fall and this might be the ugliest yet.
An Important Illegal Touching
11/30/2024 11:46:06 AMFor a moment, it looked like Louisville was going to quickly take a 14-0 lead. Fortunately, luck was on the Wildcats’ side. The Louisville wide receiver stepped out of bounds before catching it in the back of the end zone, taking the touchdown off the board. The official turned his mic on early, so we got to hear how it all unfolded between the stripes. The Cats stopped Isaac Brown short on third down, forcing a 20-yard field goal. That was a 4-point penalty. Louisville leads 10-0.
Things Might Get Ugly
11/30/2024 11:41:53 AMTamarion McDonald is having a JJ Weaver-type performance. The Louisville safety recorded his second turnover of the day. Cutter Boley thought he had man coverage. McDonald came flying downhill to step in front of the route and pick off the errant pass. The Cards have the ball in the red zone and all of the momentum in the world.
First Quarter Stats
11/30/2024 11:39:13 AMKentucky has a big third and 5 coming up to start the second quarter. The offense has been pretty lifeless so far. They have yet to string together a drive with multiple first downs.
Exhale, BBN
11/30/2024 11:34:48 AMThings were coming a little too easily for Louisville. Fortunately, they missed a home run opportunity. Kentucky brought a blitz on third and seven. The Cards picked it up and got JJ Weaver stuck on an island running downfield. Fortunately, Tyler Shough’s pass was overthrown. If that ball was on target, it might’ve been a touchdown.
The Cats are back in action. Boley got on the board with a screen pass to Jamarion Wilcox, who has the chain gang moving.
Shaky Start for Cutter Boley
11/30/2024 11:27:27 AMCutter Boley looks like a true freshman in his first college start. Facing zone coverage on second and 10, he had an easy little out-route to a wide-open Ja’Mori Maclin. Boley put too much mustard on it and threw the ball out of bounds. On the following play, Dane Key had to make an impressive play to break up an interception. The Cats need Boley to settle down and play like he has nothing to lose.
Louisville Leans on Isaac Brown
11/30/2024 11:20:17 AMJeff Brohm put the ball in the hands of his true freshman running back. Isaac Brown’s number was called on six of the nine plays on a 60-yard scoring drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run. What’s worrisome is that on most plays, Brown got 5-6 yards before he was touched by a Kentucky defender. Cards lead 7-0.
Kentucky Avoids a Disaster
11/30/2024 11:14:43 AMThe passing attack couldn’t do much against man coverage, leading to a quick three-and-out. Things almost went from bad to worse on the ensuing punt. Aidan Laros nearly dropped the snap. The punter quickly punched it away, just out of reach from the Louisville defenders. The ball went 47 yards without any return from the Cards, but they’re marching into UK territory.
How did that fumble happen?
11/30/2024 11:07:09 AMJamarion Wilcox was just responsible for the most bizarre fumble I’ve ever laid eyes on. The redshirt freshman had enormous holes to run through on back-to-back plays. Instead of getting more after the first down run, he just gave the ball to the UofL defender. I don’t know how he was able to so seamlessly take the ball from Wilcox. It makes no sense. Fortunately, there was no blood as the Kentucky defense forced a quick three-and-out.
Not a Great Crowd
11/30/2024 11:00:37 AMThe move to the season finale has not been great for ticket sales. The Governor’s Cup regularly sold out as the season opener. The cold weather (and UK record) is keeping everyone from filling all of the seats. Oh well, here goes nothing. Cats get the ball first.
Patty Loveless in the House
11/30/2024 10:58:19 AMFor the season finale, we had a live rendition of “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.” The pregame video has been played for the last two years into the hype video. Today Patty Loveless was at Kroger Field to sing the tune in person.
No Pregame Fights
11/30/2024 10:48:08 AMI typically stay in the pressbox for the lead-up to kickoff. Today is a special occasion. The Governor’s Cup typically includes some pregame extracurricular activities. Bobby Petrino once grabbed Brez by the neck. I wasn’t expecting that level of trash talk, but there had to be some jawing between the teams, right? Wrong. It was shockingly quiet between both teams during warm-ups. Guess they’re saving it all for when the game actually begins.
Three Players I’m Expecting to Play Big
11/30/2024 10:43:19 AMWillie Rodriguez, Tre’vonn Rybka, and Octavious Oxendine. The tight end was fired up on the sideline ahead of the game and I heard some positive reports about the D-linemen. Aso, I’m having a hard time thawing my hands out to type. Apologies.
Gavin Wimsatt is taking snaps with the second-unit
11/30/2024 10:35:24 AMCutter Boley is getting the start today, but Brock Vandagriff does not look like the next option. Rutgers transfer Gavin Wimsatt is getting all of the second-team snaps during pregame warmups. The redshirt junior has not played since the Tennessee game.
Shoutout to whoever gave Roush this hat
11/30/2024 10:25:42 AMIf you watched KSR’s live stream of the Cat Walk, you probably noticed that Nick Roush was wearing a red and black Buc-ees toboggan, enemy colors. I’m happy to share that someone straightened Roush out by giving him a blue and white hat. I guess we’ll let him stay.
Two Kentucky cornerbacks are doubtful
11/30/2024 10:13:39 AMWhile on the sideline, Nick Roush also tweeted that he’s not expecting Kentucky cornerbacks Terhyon Nichols nor DJ Waller to play. Nichols missed the Texas game, while Waller hasn’t played since the loss to Auburn on Oct. 26.
Wan’Dale Robinson is having a pregame talk with the Big Dog
11/30/2024 10:09:57 AMSeveral former players are expected to be in attendance today. One of them is Wan’Dale Robinson, whom Nick Roush spotted having a pregame conversation with Vince Marrow on the sideline. The Giants played the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, so Robinson was able to come back to his Old Kentucky Home to support the Cats.
Setting the Scene
11/30/2024 09:32:01 AMHello friends. It’s a sunny day in Lexington, Kentucky. The 11 Personnel crew was so fired up, we arrived about an hour earlier than usual. You couldn’t say that about most Kentucky football fans. Walking into the stadium was eerily quiet. Folks aren’t eager to be cold this early in the day. But it’s not as bad as it seems, especially if you have a sunny spot. The wind is biting in the shade. We’ll end up having a decent crowd for this Governor’s Cup and I’m fired up to get this game going.
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