Glenn Coleman
Dec 04, 2023 - 09:05

UK WKU U of L bowl games: schedule and set dates

Kentucky, Western Kentucky and Louisville football programs learned their postseason destinations. Wildcats, Hilltoppers, and Cardinals all earned bowl eligibility.

The Kentucky, Western Kentucky, and Louisville football programs have learned where they will be playing in the postseason after all three programs earned bowl eligibility for the third straight season. Kentucky (7-5) will head to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl to face ACC foe Clemson (8-4) on December 29 in Jacksonville, Fla. Western Kentucky (7-5) will take on former C-USA rival Old Dominion (6-6) in the Famous Toastery Bowl on December 18 in Charlotte, N.C. No. 16 Louisville (10-3) will face Pac-12 opponent Southern California (7-5) in the DirectTV Holiday Bowl on December 27 in San Diego.

Kentucky will be making its program-record eighth consecutive bowl game appearance and is one of only three teams in the SEC, along with Alabama and Georgia, to earn that distinction. Wildcats coach Mark Stoops said, "The Big Blue Nation always represents at our bowl destination, and we are excited to spend time in Jacksonville. We look forward to a great week, and our team can't wait to play one more time this season." Kentucky will also be making its third Gator Bowl appearance since 2016.

Western Kentucky is making its 10th bowl game appearance in the past 12 seasons and the fifth in five years under head coach Tyson Helton -- a mark of pride for the current coaching staff. Athletic director Todd Stewart noted the turnaround within the Hilltoppers' program over the last 13 years. "One of our goals every year is to make a bowl game, and while a lot of teams make a bowl game each year, not very many do it year after year," he said. "The consistent success of this program is what I'm most proud of."

Louisville will cap off its first season under coach Jeff Brohm with the first meeting with USC in school history. Both teams will look to end their seasons on a positive note -- Louisville enters on a two-game losing skid, while USC dropped the last three games of the regular season.