Thanks to a late-season three-game winning streak, Kentucky sits one win away from bowl eligibility. That one win would have to come on Saturday against the Cardinals.
However, the focus remains on the game itself rather than the implications that could follow. Yes, getting to a bowl and beating a rival would be huge, but there are other factors as well. The extra practice time is one of the biggest advantages that bowl teams get. UK offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan knows how important that would be for his unit moving forward.
“I think it’s critical,” Hamdan said. “You look at the youth we have on both sides of the ball. The extra practice equates to another spring ball. It would be a lot (of good) for us.”
Kentucky senior linebacker has been in Lexington for a couple of years, and he knows just how important this game is in the Bluegrass.
“Not only does it mean a lot to everybody in this building, it means a lot to everybody in this state,” Rayner said. “You get bragging rights for a year. There are no NFL teams here. Everybody in this state is either U of L or the University of Kentucky. So to have bragging right on a yearly basis is something we take huge pride in.”
UK center Jager Burton grew up in Lexington and has been aware of this rivalry for a long time. He has one memory that he would like to forget.
“I went to a Louisville-Kentucky football game when I was little, and Kentucky lost, and I guess it was at Louisville, and I spent the whole time on the car ride home crying,” Burton said. “Ever since I can remember, it’s been a big deal and I know how big of a deal and I know how big of a deal it is to people in the state for both sides. That motivates us to want to play and want to win. We want to win, they want to win, but there is that extra notch being an in-state rivalry, and playing for a trophy is always a big deal.”
The latest edition of the Governor’s Cup rivalry will happen on Saturday at L&N Stadium in the Derby City. The Cats will be looking to not only beat their rivals but also to extend their season.