RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesNews broke Thursday afternoon that Louisville and Michigan had agreed to a two-year deal that will see the Cardinals and Wolverines square off at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Dec. 5, and then in Nashville at some point during the 2027-28 season.
The game this season was possible because of a canceled contest between Michigan and Duke that had been set to be played at Madison Square Garden and broadcast on Amazon, but fell apart due to a broadcast rights dispute and Dusty May’s surprise departure for the NBA.
With the game against the reigning national champs now on the docket — Note: There is a non-zero chance that Louisville and Michigan could meet in the Players Era Festival title game and then again in Detroit exactly one week later — the bulk of U of L’s non-conference schedule seems to be in place. The Cards still have three games to be scheduled, but with the amount of beef on the slate already, it would seem more likely than not that those would be buy games against (hopefully) overmatched foes.
Here’s the updated look at Louisville’s pretty absurd non-conference schedule:
Oct. 21 — At Kansas (Exhibition)
Nov. 2 — vs. Chattanooga
Nov. 7 — vs. Morehead State
Nov. 24 — vs. Texas Tech (Players Era Festival first round in Las Vegas)
Nov. 26 — vs. St. John’s/Oregon (Players Era Festival second round in Las Vegas)
Nov. 27 — vs. Tennessee/Iowa State/Maryland/San Diego State (Players Era Festival third round in Las Vegas)
(Potentially) Nov. 28 — Players Era Festival Championship game
Dec. 1 — vs. Texas (ACC-SEC Challenge)
Dec. 5 — vs. Michigan (in Detroit)
Dec. 12 — At Kentucky
TBA — vs. Baylor (rumored to be Jan. 23 in Nashville)
TBA — at Memphis State
That is eight, potentially nine, games against power programs with very real shots to make the NCAA Tournament (even you, Memphis State). If you win that first game in Vegas against Texas Tech, you’re virtually assured of having at least five games against teams that will be in the preseason AP top 25.
OK, now dream with me for a moment
On Thanksgiving Week, the Louisville men’s basketball team exacts some Maui revenge on Texas Tech. Then they take down Rick Pitino and St. John’s on Thanksgiving Day, and take out two years worth of frustration on Tennessee a day later.
That Saturday, the Cardinal basketball team captures the Players Era Festival title, and then the football team goes to Lexington and smacks Kentucky for a third straight year.
Three days later, Pat Kesley and company take down an unbeaten, top 10 Texas team in front of the best Yum Center crowd of the Kelsey era.
That Saturday, the basketball team knocks off reigning national champ Michigan in Detroit, and the football team locks up a playoff berth with an ACC title game win in Charlotte.
A week later, the women’s team takes down Kentucky and the men’s team wins at Rupp for the first time since 2008.
That would be a decent three week run.
July is for dreaming.
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