The Governor's Cup football game between Kentucky and Louisville is safe for at least another year, as the Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday it will stick to an eight-game conference schedule for the 2025 season.
The SEC considered adding conference games to the schedule when Texas and Oklahoma joined the league this summer, but decided to stick to eight games in 2024, keeping all options open for the future. selected. The 2024 season will be the first time since 1991 that the league will not be split into two divisions.
Wednesday's announcement revealed that SEC schools will play the same opponents on the 2024 conference schedule in 2025, but in alternate locations.
“We continue to monitor changes across college sports related to future schedules,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a news release. “Continuing with the current format for the 2025 season will give us additional time to understand the impact of the changes happening around us as we determine the appropriate long-term plan for the SEC football schedule. Masu.”
Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart has been the most vocal proponent of keeping the league schedule to eight games, citing the benefits it would give Kentucky in building a program with national relevance. are listed. If the SEC moves to nine conference games in the future, which remains a consideration beyond 2026, Barnhart acknowledged the school will reconsider its non-conference scheduling strategy. This could put the annual rivalry matchup with Louisville in jeopardy as Kentucky looks to balance with additional SEC games.
In 2025, Kentucky will become the first SEC foe to host Texas after traveling to Austin in 2024. The tentative schedule means the 2025 home game against Texas A&M, which was included in the schedule rotation before Texas and Oklahoma joined the league, will not occur. Kentucky has yet to host Texas A&M since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2014.
Kentucky's eight SEC games in 2025 will include nonconference home games against Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Tennessee Tech. The Wildcats have a contract to finish the regular season at Louisville in 2025.
SEC game dates will be announced at a later date.
Kentucky Football 2025 Opponents
Home games: Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Tennessee Tech, Ole Miss, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas
Away games: Louisville, South Carolina, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Auburn
2024 Kentucky Football Schedule
Home games are written in all uppercase letters. Kickoff time and broadcast network will be announced at a later date.
August 31st: southern mississippi
September 7th: south carolina
September 14th: georgia
September 21st: Ohio
September 28th: At Ole Miss
October 5th: opening day
October 12th: Vanderbilt
October 19th: in florida
October 26th: auburn
November 2: in tennessee
November 9th: opening day
November 16th: malay state
November 23rd: in texas
November 30th: Louisville
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