LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville and Georgia have officially canceled their 2026-27 home-and-home football series. U of L Athletics Director Josh Heird says the decision was mutual, and strategic.
"Recent changes to our home-and-home series with Georgia are another example of the scheduling adjustments that come with today’s evolving college football landscape," Heird said in a statement released Wednesday.
The contract, originally signed in 2021, would have brought Georgia to Louisville in 2026, with the Cardinals traveling to Athens in 2027.
Once Georgia opted out of the 2026 game, Louisville could have enforced multiple contract clauses — including a $1 million cancellation penalty and a separate fee if Georgia declined to host the 2027 return trip.
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But taking such a measure actually would have had a price tag for Louisville, too.
To make room for Georgia, Louisville would have had to buy out other already-scheduled non-conference opponents in both 2026 and 2027 to accommodate the ACC’s move to a nine-game conference schedule. That additional cost, Heird said, "would have added unnecessary cost without improving our overall competitive position."
"Rather than navigating those complexities," Heird said, "both schools worked together to find a solution that provides long-term scheduling flexibility for each program."
That solution includes discussions about a potential single-game, neutral-site matchup in the early 2030s, an event that could still deliver a marquee opponent without long-term entanglements.
"This approach preserves a high-profile game for our fans, avoids unnecessary financial impact for both universities, and positions us well as the postseason landscape continues to evolve," Heird said.
"Our goal will always be to deliver the best possible schedules for Louisville Football — ones that excite our fans and give our program every opportunity to compete for championships. We look forward to sharing our updated future schedules soon."
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