LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)Â After announcing a scheduled two-game series with Georgia will not happen, the University of Louisville football program announced a replacement opponent on Wednesday afternoon.
Louisville will face Ole Miss this coming Sept. 5 or 6 in Nashville's Nissan Stadium.
It will be just the second meeting between the Cardinals and Rebels. The teams played in the 2021 season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a 41-23 win for Ole Miss.
"We are excited to partner with Ole Miss, ESPN, and Nashville Sports Council to bring this season-opening matchup to Nashville," Louisville athletics director Josh Heird said. "This contest presents a tremendous opportunity for our program, our student-athletes, and our fans. Nashville is home to a strong Cardinals presence, and showcasing Louisville Football in a premier venue on a national stage is something we wholeheartedly embrace."
The game happens as the result of a mutually agreed upon cancellation of the Louisville-Georgia series. Georgia was exercising a contract option to opt out of the 2026 game in Louisville, which in turn then agreed to forego its 2027 visit to Athens.
"Jeff Brohm has never shied away from playing a challenging non-conference schedule and is always willing to face anyone in the country," Heird said. "His approach reflects the competitive spirit we want at Louisville—embracing opportunities to compete against elite programs and preparing our football team for the highest level of competition. That mindset not only strengthens our program but also excites our fan base and elevates the national profile of Louisville Football."
Heird said the move was going to save Louisville money in the end, given that ACC expansion was going to force a buyout of an already-contracted opponent for 2027.
Now, Louisville will slide Ole Miss into the 2026 slot and likely keep its 2027 schedule as is.
Louisville's other non-conference opponents next season are Villanova, Charlotte and Kentucky. In 2026, they have South Florida, Richmond and Kentucky.
Ole Miss is preparing for the 2025 College Football Playoff, but without head coach Lane Kiffin, who left for LSU. Pete Golding, Kiffin's defensive coordinator in Oxford, was named permanent head coach after Kiffin's departure.
Louisville Football Coverage:
Heird: Scrapping the Georgia series 'avoids unnecessary financial impact' for both schools
The Georgia-Louisville football series is canceled, a casualty of expanded SEC schedule
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