1. Louisville beats UK, reignites Bluegrass Rivalry - November 2025
The Bluegrass Rivalry was scheduled for one of its earliest dates. The November date shocked both fanbases, since the game has historically been played in December. It quickly became the unofficial start of the basketball season for both schools, and a game that would propel the winner to a quick, hot start and directly to national prominence. Luckily for Cardinal fans, Louisville prevailed in pretty dominant fashion, if you exclude the period when play struggled after the Mikel Brown injury scare. Louisville had 2 20-point leads at separate points during the game and eventually won the major early-season contest 96-88.
The significance of the game is easy to see. It was Louisville's first win in the rivalry since COVID and its first non-COVID win since 2016. The win restored the rivalry and put Louisville back on the map as a force to be reckoned with in the state of Kentucky. It was also a moment to highlight just how dominant Louisville can be against inferior opponents. Mikel Brown Jr. shone, showcasing the NBA talent and potential in his skill set. The transfer 3-point shooters also made their mark on the rivalry, taking advantage of a defensive travesty by the Wildcats. Louisville now holds the state's crown until the 2 teams compete again next season.