How to Watch | Kentucky at Louisville, TV info, point spread, storylines and more | Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — When Kentucky and Louisville limp into Saturday’s annual rivalry finale in L&N Stadium, the story isn’t just bragging rights, it’s bandwidth. Both teams have depleted rosters. This game is about who has the most left, on the roster and in the tank.

Louisville will enter the game without its top three running backs (Isaac Brown, Keyjuan Brown, and Duke Watson), its top two receivers (Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy), starting linebacker Antonio Watts, and potentially its quarterback, Miller Moss, who missed the loss at SMU with a foot injury.

Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford

Kentucky is also hobbling — down multiple edge rushers (Kam Olds and Sam Greene), top tight end Josh Kattus, and as many as six defensive backs who missed last week’s loss at Vanderbilt. Linebacker Alex Afari Jr. could return, but to say the Cats’ secondary is stretched thin would be an understatement.

That makes this game a test of depth, resilience, and perhaps, a little rivalry magic. Louisville has the better, and healthier, defense. Kentucky has a more stable offense behind redshirt freshman QB Cutter Boley, who enters with momentum after some solid SEC performances. Louisville is expected to give Deuce Adams his second start, and hope for a big step up. Cardinals’ coach Jeff Brohm said they’re hoping Moss will be able to play, as well.

Louisville has dropped three straight. Kentucky saw a three-game winning streak crash at Vanderbilt last week. Both teams need this one. With bowl positioning (Louisville) and bowl eligibility (Kentucky) at stake, expect a spirited scrap, no matter who is able to suit up.

The Time

Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, Noon ET, L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, Louisville, Ky.

How to Watch / Listen

TV: ACC Network (Jorge Sedano play-by-play, Rodney McLeod analyst, Victoria Arlen sideline). Streaming: ESPN app

U of L Radio: Louisville Sports Properties, 93.9 FM, 1450 AM (Paul Rogers play-by-play, Craig Swabek analyst, Jody Demling sideline). U of L satellite: Sirius XM 117 or 194. U of L streaming: ESPN Louisville app

UK Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach play-by-play, Jeff Piecoro analyst, Dick Gabriel sideline). UK streaming: UKAthletics.com. UK satellite: Sirius XM 160 or 191.

The Line

Favorite: Louisville by 3. Over/under: 46.5. Moneyline: Louisville -148, Kentucky +124

Notes: Each of the last six meetings in Louisville has hit the over. Kentucky is 5-6 against the spread this season, Louisville is 3-8. The Cardinals have not covered against the spread in a home game this season, and haven’t covered — or won — since Isaac Brown was injured late in its win at Virginia Tech.

The Coaches

Jeff Brohm is 26-12 in his third season at Louisville and 92-56 overall. He’s 1-1 vs. Kentucky.

Mark Stoops is 72-79 in his 13th season at Kentucky, the longest-tenured coach in the SEC. He’s 6-5 against Louisville.

Series History

Kentucky leads the all-time series 20-16 and has won five of the past six meetings, including four straight at L&N Stadium. Louisville’s last home win came in 2014 (44-40).

The Records

Louisville is 7-4 overall, 4-4 in the ACC, and coming off a 38-6 loss at SMU.

Kentucky is 5-6 overall, 2-6 in the SEC, and coming off a 45-17 loss at Vanderbilt.

Players to Watch

LOUISVILLE

Quarterback Deuce Adams will definitely see action in his second career start, while starter Miller Moss remains questionable. Running back Shaun Boykins Jr. carried 8 times for 52 yards in the loss at SMU. Wide receiver Dacari Collins is the top receiver available, by catches and yards, with 11 receptions for 176 yards. Kris Hughes is the only Louisville receiver available who has caught a touchdown pass this season. Linebacker TJ Quinn (77 tackles), defensive ends Wes Bailey and Clev Lubin (combined 10 sacks) will all be pivotal players. Safety D’Angelo Hutchinson had 10 tackles in the loss at SMU.

KENTUCKY

Quarterback Cutter Boley (2,060 yards, 15 TDs) has completed nearly 72% of his passes over the past six games. Running back Seth McGowan (720 yards, 12 TDs) leads the ground game, while Kendrick Law (50 catches) has been their most dangerous receiver, with 26 catches in the past four games, including an 11-reception performance against Tennessee Tech in which he caught the ball every time he was targeted. Linebacker Daveren Rayner (66 tackles) has anchored the defense in the absence of linebacker Alex Afari, whose return would be welcome for the Wildcats. Ty Bryant, a junior safety from Lexington, leads the SEC with 4 interceptions and could be this game’s X-factor.

Sideline Storylines

BACKFIELD BREAKDOWN: Louisville is without Isaac Brown and Duke Watson — the two backs who rushed for 282 yards and 4 TDs combined in last year’s win in Lexington. Shaun Boykins, a freshman out of North Hardin, was a wide receiver in high school but has moved to the running back spot out of necessity. He carries the ball wearing No. 89, and was solid at SMU, averaging better than 5 yards per carry. Kentucky not only has McGowan, who is third in the SEC in rushing touchdowns, but Dante Dowdell, who is the first Wildcat with two TDs of 60-plus yards in a season since Chris Rodriguez.

MOSS OR MYSTERY?: Miller Moss’s foot injury clouds the quarterback picture. Backup Deuce Adams started at SMU and was efficient, but conservative, in the first game in which the Cards failed to pass for 100 yards since the 2023 ACC Championship game. If Moss plays, it could help tip the game, though he has struggled over the past month even when healthy. If not, Adams faces a shaky UK secondary that gave up 484 passing yards to Vanderbilt.

QB GROWTH: Boley completed just six passes for 48 yards and a pair of interceptions last year against Louisville. But he enters with confidence, completing over 70% of his passes over the past six games. He has 12 TDs in SEC play, a UK freshman record.

STREAKS AND STAKES: Kentucky has won four straight in Louisville. The Cards haven’t lost four straight overall since 2018. A Louisville win would mark the 25th eight-win season in program history. A Kentucky win would make it bowl eligible; a loss would end its season.

LAST YEAR'S STARS: Louisville running backs Isaac Brown and Duke Watson combined for 282 yards and four touchdowns in last season’s Louisville victory. Watson averaged 17.3 yards per carry in a game where Louisville did not have a passing touchdown. Both players will be out for Saturday's game.

VETERAN LINE: UK has one of the most experienced offensive lines in FBS, with 166 career starts between them prior to the start of the season. That ranked No. 3 in the nation, and all five linemen have started every game this season.

SWITCHING SIDES: Vince Marrow, who coached tight ends at Kentucky for 12 years, moved to Louisville before the season to become executive director of player personnel and recruiting.

The Pick

Kentucky 21, Louisville 17

Louisville has too many injured playmakers. For the Cardinals to win this game, the defense will have to carry it. And it could do that. But last week’s performance wasn’t terribly inspiring.

Louisville hasn’t covered at home all season and is 1-3 straight up vs. Power 4 competition in L&N Stadium. Kentucky has provided its own reasons for doubt, but still comes into this game with more healthy playmakers, and perhaps more motivation.