The storied rivalry between the Bearcats and Louisville is set to resume in the Fenway Bowl this week. Check out a break down of the Keg of Nails rivalry prior to kick off on Saturday in Boston!
Even though the programs haven’t met in nearly a decade, the upcoming matchup comes with a lot of intrigue after head coach Scott Satterfield moved from Louisville to Cincinnati this month.
After first meeting in 1929, the matchup became an annual rivalry game in 1966 since both schools previously competed in the Missouri Valley Conference, Conference USA and Big East.
Cincinnati leads the series with a 30-22-1 record against the Cardinals including winning the first 12 games from 1929-1970 but Louisville has gone 11-5 since a blowout loss at home in 1997.
Stage is set for the #Bearcats upcoming matchup against Louisville in the @FenwayBowl on Saturday morning! https://t.co/pqZdp0sGKi
— Cincy on the Prowl (@CincyOnTheProwl) December 15, 2022
Cincinnati Football: Breaking down Keg of Nails series history prior to Fenway Bowl
- Date: Saturday, December 17 at 11:00 AM
- Location: Fenway Park in Boston
- TV Broadcast: ESPN and fuboTV
- Series History: Bearcats lead 30-22-1
Despite trailing the all-time series, Louisville won the two most recent matchups with overtime wins in 2012 and 2013 behind All-Big East duo Teddy Bridgewater and DeVante Parker.
One of the most memorable Keg of Nails came in a loss as quarterback Gino Guidugli helped the Bearcats come back from a 28-7 deficit before Louisville survived with a 43-40 win in 2003.
Five years later, Cincinnati snapped a 6-game losing streak against the Cardinals as Mardy Gilyard led the way to a 28-20 win en route to securing the first Big East title in program history.
Check out the TV coverage for the #Bearcats matchup against the rival Louisville Cardinals in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday morning in Boston on ESPN and @fuboTV.https://t.co/MjFZTZzBnt pic.twitter.com/MyFLQXuNZR
— Cincy on the Prowl (@CincyOnTheProwl) December 15, 2022
Cincinnati Football: TV coverage, where to watch upcoming Fenway Bowl matchup
Check out the TV coverage and where to watch the Bearcats upcoming matchup against the rival Louisville Cardinals in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday morning in Boston on ESPN and fuboTV.
According to 506 Sports, the ESPN commentators will be play by play announcer Chris Cotter alongside former Boston College Eagles and New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich.
It should be a competitive game as both teams hope to earn a memorable win and take some momentum into the offseason, especially against a former rival with a similar recruiting reach.