WKU Football: Gameday Info for Game 3 Against Louisville
WKU travels up I-65 to take on the in-state Louisville Cardinals for the first time since 1998. At stake is a potential statement win for…
WKU travels up I-65 to take on the in-state Louisville Cardinals for the first time since 1998. At stake is a potential statement win for the Tops or the first 0–3 start since 2011.
If you need to know any of the game information, look no further — we have you covered.
Location
Cardinal Stadium. Louisville, KY
Time
6:30 p.m. CT
Weather Forecast
TV
TV — Fox Sports Regional
Stream — WatchESPN*
*Game will be blacked out to stream in Kentucky so you’ll have to watch on Fox Sports South
Radio
Gameday Information
Louisville Cardinals Visitors Guide
WKU Alumni Association Topper Tailgate at Louisville
Betting Lines from Sportsline.com
Louisville -23
Over/ Under: 57
Moneyline : Louisville -2000
Current Records
WKU: 0–2
Louisville: 1–1
Last Week
WKU hosted FCS Maine in their home opener. After jumping out to a 21–0 lead in the first six minutes of the game it was all downhill for the Hilltoppers.
Maine slowly chipped away, cutting the lead down to 21–14 at the half. After a scoop and score fumble recovery touchdown by the Blackbears, Mike Sanford decided to go for it on 4th and 1 from his own 15-yard line and was stuffed.
Maine scored on their next play and eventually extended their lead to 31–21. After a quick touchdown with seven minutes left, WKU had one last drive to tie or take the lead. Unfortunately, Ryan Nuss’ 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked and Maine ran out the clock to finish off WKU 31–28 and reawaken the bad vibes surrounding Mike Sanford’s program.
Louisville would also host an FCS program in the Indiana State. In a game that took five hours and 35 minutes to complete, the Cardinals disappointed in a rain delay-filled struggle against the Sycamores. Louisville jumped out to an early 7–0 lead on a punt return from Rodjay Burns before the first rain delay started. After the breaks, UofL would slog and struggle and would go to the locker room tied with ISU 7–7. After yet another rain delay, Bobby Petrino would bench quarterback Juwan Pass for Malik Cunningham and Louisville would score 24 second half point to emerge with a disappointing 31–7 win.
Coaches
Mike Sanford — 2nd season, 6–9 overall
Bobby Petrino- 9th season, 76–28 at Louisville. 14th season overall, 118–49 record.
Series
Last Meeting
Way back on Halloween of 1998, The then 1-AA Hilltoppers traveled up north to face the then Conference USA member, Louisville Cardinals in the first year of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Future WKU head coach, Willie Taggart quarterbacked the Hilltoppers triple option attack against John L. Smith’s high powered, Bobby Petrino coordinated offense. WKU held their own early, jumping out to a 10–7 lead after a first-quarter 46-yard touchdown run by Jammie Kyle. WKU had no answer for UofL running back Leroy Collins who had three of his five touchdowns in the first half. WKU hung tough trailing 35–20 at the half. After a Donte Pimpleton touchdown, WKU trailed by just eight points with 11:45 left in the third quarter. It was all Louisville from that point on as the Chris Redman led Cardinals would roll up 28 straight points and 687 yards of total offense. Both teams combined for 1228 yards of total offense in a 63–34 Louisville win.
Relevant Reading
Ranking The Non-Conference Road Trips Over The Next Decade #1–7
Five Things Mike Sanford Needs to Do to Turn the Program Around
Injury Report from Don Best
For WKU:
QB Drew Eckles — Game Time Decision: Upper Body
Jakairi Moses — Out: Knee
For Louisville:
QB Jawon Pass — Probable: Toe
LB Dorian Etheridge — Questionable: Leg
LB Jonathan Greenard — Out: Wrist
FB Tobias Little — Out: Knee
Excitement Level — 6
Last week’s inexcusable loss takes a lot of luster of what was once looked upon as a signature game for WKU fans. With Sanford’s seat heating up and apathy already taking shape across the fanbase, a game that should be celebrated is now just another trip to a power conference opponent. That being said, a win today erases the Maine loss and gets the program back on track. A win against an in-state rival that you haven’t played in 20 years can carry a lot of goodwill, let's hope they can put it together and use last week’s embarrassment to further motivate them.
Go Tops! We’ll be in Louisville providing live coverage of this crucial rivalry. If you’ve traveled up I-65, please send us your tailgating and in-game pictures via Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebook page and we’ll share.